13.6 Conclusion

Conclusion

The requirements you collect are the basis of the entire system you build. Mistakes made in this step are very hard to correct later on, and they will typically delay projects a great deal. The best time for the customer or user to give his input is while you are collecting the requirements. Make sure you interview customers and users regularly and try to get as many details as you can.

Using tools to collect requirements rather than a simple sheet of paper or a word processor is an essential step toward better software quality, easier maintenance and cheaper modifications. Tools help you to organize this process and give you valuable information about the impact of changed requirements, fixes and other modifications.