SDLC Vs DDLC

This article deals about Technical writing and discusses about how you adapt the writing process to suit the different phases of Software Development Life Cycle's (SDLC) needs and requirements.

Although there are many steps in SDLC, this article lists out only the important stages of SDLC. They are

1. Requirement Gathering
2. Analysis & Design
3. Coding
4. Code Review & Testing Phase
5. Launch (Alpha & Beta releases)
6. Maintenance

Every software project has its own customized SDLC framework.

All the proprietary framework versions are dependent upon the skeleton structure of the above SDLC framework.

Just like how every software project is dependent on SDLC, in the same way, every documentation project also is dependent on Document Development Life Cycle (DDLC). The DDLC framework is divided into the following steps.

1. Understand Product / project requirements
2. Doing Audience Analysis
3. Deciding about Output formats (.PDF, Online Help) & Documentation deliverables
4. Zeroing on Documentation & Graphic tools
5. Gathering the base or source documents
6. Template Designing
7. Time frame & Estimate
8. Identifying Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) & points of contact
9. Identifying peer, technical, and editorial reviewers
10. Creating the Documentation Plan
11. Draft Table of Contents (TOC)
12. Doing Content Development
13. Managing Review Cycles
14. Incorporating Review Comments
15. Final Output

All the precedent DDLC framework steps can be summarized into five subcategories, which in turn can be mapped to every step of SDLC. The five summarized subcategories are

1. Preparation of the Documentation Plan
2. Writing the content
3. Reviewing the content
4. Document Delivery
5. Document Maintenance

Since every Documentation project in software field depends upon the corresponding project / product, the SDLC framework of the same has to be mapped with the DDLC of the corresponding Documentation project.

Mapping of SDLC vs. DDLC

1. Analysis & Design Preparation of Documentation Plan
2. Coding Writing the content
3. Code Review & Testing Phase Review the content
4. Launch (Alpha & Beta releases) Document release
5. Maintenance Document maintenance (incorporating functionality enhancements & modifications)

As you can see from the precedenting mapping, every process in SDLC is mapped with the corresponding process in DDLC. Most of the companies, particularly product companies, want the documentation ready by the time the product hits the market.

For the companies following Agile methodology, when the product is under development stage, there will be frequent enhancements, corrections, etc, during each iteration. Just like how the changes are incorporated in the code, in the same way, changes have to be done to the corresponding documentation to keep the deliverables up-to-date as per the client / market requirements.

Computer Programming and Software Engineering Programs

Computer software engineering has become a career of choice for many people considering its dynamic nature and exciting well-paying career opportunities. It is a branch of computer science that deals with design, documentation, development and management of software. Some of the subjects that will be offered by a programming school will include internet programming, application development, database development, custom business applications and web development.

A programming school will offer basic education on how to develop a computer program that is adaptable to the peripheral needs of each user as well as a chance to do research on relevant issues that are facing this field. A software engineering research includes analysis of software processes as well as measurement and modeling of computer usage behaviors.

The study modes offered at a software engineering school involve intensive and rigorous mixture of lectures, practical classes and tutorials. Extra remedial classes can be offered to poor students to enable them catch up with their colleagues. Before conferment of the degree, diploma or certificate to the student, they have to go through thorough assessments in form of course assignments and exams. A program especially the degree would not be complete without a project whether done in a group or individually.

Computer programming courses can be offered either as associate degrees, diplomas or certificates. The higher levels will go up to the masters and PhD ranks. There is a number of software engineering schools that offer online programs which enable their students to take the course regardless of where they are located. This distance learning facility also enables people who are working but may wish to further their education to do so without necessarily quitting their jobs.

A course in a software engineering school prepares the student for a whole range of exciting career opportunities. The information technology industry is very accommodating as the graduates can get a chance to work in whiche organization that makes use of computer services. Better still a course from a good and recognized programming school will enable the student to be absorbed in the job market even without the working experience.

Mobile Apps Development Trends and the Demand of Mobile Applications

Mobile Apps development exemplifies the development of apps which work as additional features in a mobile handheld device. These apps can be downloaded by the end user and can be used in different mobile platforms which are available in the market. These applications can also be found pre-installed in different devices too.

The demand for more and more applications is on the rise as there are many smartphones which are available in the mid-priced segment in the market. Demand is in all types of mobile apps, whether simple or complex and includes games, business apps, and other utilities. Mobile software development has also provided different types of users with various benefits like regular access to his mails, chat options with friends online, social networking including Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and others, and Internet access to search online. There is no limit to what is possible with the high-end mobiles as they have integrated great tools and applications to track calls, edit photos and videos, and also track down their own location through the GPS (Geographical Positioning System).

Some of the best known mobile platforms in vogue are iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile with the latest addition being the iPad platform introduced by Apple. There are no restrictions in terms of trends in the way apps are being launched today as there is an immune demand of all types of mobile apps. Most of the apps center across business, games, news, Weather information, and financial investments. There are many other categories other than this in niche areas which include live game scores, climate changes etc.

There are various offshore development companies who are engaged in offering these application development services and it includes planning, development and enablement services, SMS Push Pull up applications (mobile messaging), and other miscellaneous programming services which are based on mobile pocket PC.

Developing a mobile application is absolutely a cumbersome task and requires great skill and innovative capabilities. Mobile application developers need to be highly knowledgeable of the various platforms and create multi-platform applications which can be played as well in the Symbian as in the Android platform. There is high competition in the mobile application development field as more offshore companies are offering comprehensive end-to-end solutions.

With the coming days and the decreasing cost of smartphones worldwide, the scope of mobile application development is definitely increasing. The major challenge for companies is to retain and hire developers who are adept in creating applications in more than one platform.

Simple Origami - 8 Fun Facts About Paper Folding

Simple origami is ideal for all ages. While many may think it's just for kids, it's not! Here are eight fun facts about paper folding that you may not know ... yet!

1. There are dozens of entries for origami in the Guinness Book of World Records including most folds, smallest, biggest, fastest time for folding 100 cars, and many more.
2. If you thought origami was just for kids, think again. There is an origami airplane championship held every two years in Japan. According to an article in the Bangkok Post, the record for the longest flight indoors of an origami plane is 22.48 seconds - held by Takuo Toda, who is credited with inventing the paper airplane.
3. The smallest origami crane in the world was made by Naito Akira folding plastic film measuring 0.1 by 0.1 mm. The 82-year old uses special tools and a microscope.
4. The three largest origami cranes on record include one with a wingspan of 206.7 feet made by Akita Japan residents in August 1998. It took approximately 200 people 7.5 hours to fold the square paper which measured 212 feet per side. Wings for Peace folded an origami crane in Seattle in November 1999 with a resulting wing span of 215 feet. The latter reportedly weighed 1750 pounds. In January 2001 an origami crane with a wingspan of 256 ft 6 was folded in Odate Japan.
5. A charity in Mexico (Grupedsac) supports small farmers and indigenous people to make and sell shoulder bags, hand bags, coin purses and belts out of folded candy wrappers and other trash.
6. Origami is the theme of a play in New York called "Animals Out of Paper" in which the three main characters all are involved in the art of paper folding.
7. There are at least a dozen national origami associations throughout the world including: US, Japan, France, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy, Poland, Russia, and China. The British Origami Society was the first association and was founded in London in 1967.
8. Origami USA sponsors a yearly convention in New York that is said to be the largest in the world.

It's easy and affordable to get started with simple origami. You just need paper and folding directions.

Digital Filter And Its Advantages and Disadvantages!

In quest to design a digital filter, it is important to follow a step by step guideline from specification to implementation. Each option of the design process is open for all designers. Most digital signals process experts apply some digital filter theory especially reflecting the considerable research effort, approximation for finding useful method of calculating filter coefficient.

What is digital filter?

It is a network or a accuracy system by which we can change the wave shape, amplitude, phase, frequency and other characteristics of the signal in a desired manner. The main objectives of using the filter in digital signal processing are to improve the signal quality by reducing noise, to extract or combine the desired portion of the signal. Basically in signal processing technology, it is an algorithm which is implemented in software and hardware to generate digital output signal from the input signal explicitly in a desired manner. It performs on a routine filtering algorithm representing some variables, numbers or digitized analog signals on specific hardware or software.

There are few steps in real time digital filter with analog input. First, band limiter limits the analog signal in order to periodic sample and convert into series of binary sample. Second, a processor is used to process these input sequences into output sequences with some types of computational mathematical algorithm. After that, the processed signal converters in analog signal reducing some unwanted components.

Advantages

• It has linear phase response.
• Thermal and environmental variation can not change the performance.
• It is so-called adaptive filter because the frequency response can be possible to adjust automatically with implementation of programmable processor.
• It is possible to filter several input sequences without any hardware replication.
• All data can be stored
• It has repeatable performance unit to unit.
• Due to its operating level is at low frequency, it is used where the use of analog system is impractical.

Disadvantages

• In reality, the signal bandwidth of the digital sequence is much lower than the analog sequence. Signal processing speed is one of the key factors of calculating the total device performance. Actually the speed operation totally depends on the number of the arithmetic operation in the processor.
• Finite word-length effect, which results quantizing noise and round-off noise, is another major drawback during computation.
• It needs much longer time to design and develop the digital sequences though it can be used on other tasks or applications once developed. Ordinarily good support of computer aided design can convert them into a pleasant tasks.

8 Ways to Boost Productivity in the Office - Start Outside and Work Your Way In

Setting up a new office for your business is no simple task. From finding the most suitable place to settle in, to making sure that your office space is kitted out thoroughly and that your employees have absolutely everything that they will need on hand; there's always something else to remember.

In this article we are going to explore a few different ways in which you can maximize on the productivity in your office. Once you're all up and running and things are beginning to pick up pace, you're going to want to ensure that your workers are motivated and dedicated to the task at hand.

It's a big deal, setting up an office; and you want to do everything in your power to secure your success. Read on for 8 ways in which you can boost productivity in your new office.

1 - Location, Location

OK, so this point is not related to what's in the office, but what's outside. One of the most important aspects of an office's location is what there is to do in the immediate surrounding area. You need to offer your employees the opportunity to get out of the office on their lunch and enjoy a nice coffee, or some decent places to eat. This is the key to a productive work - ample having distractions OUTSIDE.

2 - Keep Distractions to a Minimum

While it is important to have your office located in a relatively central area with plenty of things to do, you should try to keep the distractions in the office to a minimum. You'll have a hard-enough time keeping them off their smart phones, so an overly cluttered office with too many visual distractions can be detrimental.

Keep it simple and add plenty of green to your office. Having a few beautiful plants scattered around have more benefits than simply making the place look pretty.

3 - Noise: Find the Right Balance

This one really does depend on the culture of your business and the personalities that you have on your team. Often a bit of music can really help to boost productivity in the workplace, though having the radio going with lots of talking may not be the best course of action.

Weigh it up and try to find the right fit for the people you have working for you. Perhaps a bit of neutral instrumental music playing in the background through the day could be really positive.

4 - Ergonomic Furniture, Always

You should never skimp on furniture when it comes to kitting out your office. No, it's not cheap and you've no doubt forked a lot of money so far through the entire process of getting things set up. But, if you want your employees to work at their optimum performance levels it is important to ensure that they are comfortable. Not only that, but ergonomic office furniture is much, much better for their health and well-being. At least act like you care, eh?

5 - Light the Way

Lighting is arguably one of the most important factors when it comes to productivity and the overall mood in an office. Natural light is truly a godsend and so you should take every advantage of it. If you're limited with how many windows you have in the office, then look to installing a few mirrors in opportune locations.

This can also contribute towards making the space feel bigger, if you're in a small small office. You could always look to implement various lighting or lamp features, though again; be careful not to go too OTT with distractions.

6 - A Room with a View

Again, this is not necessarily going to be possible, depending on your set up. Although it is always handy to have some large open windows, offering a nice view for your employees to enjoy.

While we've talked about keeping distractions to a minimum, a bit of green or a city-scape can often be inspiring - that and it affords your staff a quick reply from staring at their screens.

7 - Encourage Regular Breaks

Arguably the worst thing that you can do to your business is order your employees to stay at their desks at all times. I've worked in that environment before, where people are penalized for spending too much time in the toilet and believe me; it does not work. Not only does it significantly reduce your staff retention rate, but it also encourages people to slack off more.

By encouraging regular breaks, it is not only good for your employee's health, but their productivity too. A bit of time away from the desk to stretch their legs will work wonders. Try implementing some fun brain teasers and puzzles to keep them occupied for 5 minutes while they have a cup of tea - that'll keep the cogs whirling.

8. Keep a Clean Environment

If you can not afford to hire cleaners, do it yourself. There is nothing worse than a filthy environment. Make sure that your office is regularly cleaned and that your staff keep a clean working area. They may not like it, but you could implement a "slob-of-the-month", award. Nobody will want to be recognized as the one who does not clean up after themselves in the break room.

To Summarise

Certain Office buildings come with a number of benefits, such as in-house cleaning, round-the-clock security and being in a centralized location with magnificent views. You can tick off many of these productivity points simply being finding the right spot to set your office up. Do your research before rushing in! Make sure your employees will benefit just as much from it's location as will your budget.

Pros and Cons of Using a Laptop With a Backlit Keyboard

Perhaps one of the most underrated features of high-end laptops today is the LED backlit keyboard. There are some people who would not buy a laptop without it, and other who does not even know it exists as a feature. We're going to dig into the pros and cons of owning a laptop with this kind of keyboard so you can make the decision for yourself.

Positives: Reasons In Support Of Using a Laptop with an Illuminated Keyboard

1. The most obvious reason: You can use your laptop in the dark!

Many people are not able to type without looking at the keys, and if you often find yourself on your laptop in bed at night (with the lights off), having an illuminated keyboard can be a big help.

2. You're probably using a better computer when you have a backlit keyboard.

One other good reason for owning a laptop that has a backlit keyboard is you're probably using a better computer when you have a backlit keyboard. This delivers the additional advantage of having other components that are considered "high-end" or "high performance", which is certain to protect against making the mistake of buying a computer that runs slowly and does not perform well with games (if you 're into that ..)

3. It just looks cool.

And then there's the fact that having an illuminated keyboard is aesthetically pleasing. This is important since it makes you feel good about your purchase, and perhaps allows you to further enjoy whatever it is you're doing on the computer. Once you take that consideration, then it seems sensible to own a laptop that has a backlit keyboard.

But that is the good side of laptops with illuminated keyboards. There is also a negative side. Here's a discussion of some of the negative aspects.

Cons: Points Against Buying a Laptop with a Backlit Keyboard

1. They're often more expensive.

If you are shopping for a laptop that runs well and is affordable, you might find that these laptops often more expensive. That's clearly a bad thing. It could have enough reason for avoiding buying it at all.

2. They use more battery power.

This is fine if you always use your laptop plugged in, but if you travel a lot and expect to use the battery power often, you may find yourself with limited usage time.

3. You simply do not need it.

A final legitimate reason to avoid buying a laptop that has ones of these keyboards is that you simply do not need it .. Everyone should consider this point very carefully, considering that it can result in a reason to steer clear of these computers. You may be better suited spending the money on other features that are more useful to you. owning a laptop that has a backlit keyboard

So that that is that. These are the disadvantages and benefits of purchasing a laptop that has a backlit keyboard .. It certainly is not ideal for all of us, yet it definitely is good for some. Here, think diligently about the reasons mentioned above. Hopefully your final decision process will be aided greatly by the pro and con information brought to you here.