软件生存周期过程的interfaces——DO-178B/ED-12B学习笔记之十一

软件生存周期过程的interfaces

——DO-178B/ED-12B学习笔记之十一

 

DO-178B/ED-12B在三份计划中提到了interfaces，见表1。

 

表1

计划名称	章条号	内容
Software Verification Plan	11.3.a	[英文]Organization: Organizational responsibilities within the software verification process and interfaces with the other software life cycle processes. [法文]Organisation : Organisation et responsabilités au sein du processus de vérification du logiciel et interfaces avec les autres processus du cycle de vie du logiciel.
Software Configuration Management Plan	11.4.a	[英文]Environment: A description of the SCM environment to be used, including procedures, tools, methods, standards, organizational responsibilities, and interfaces. [法文] Environnement : Description de l'environnement de SCM, y compris les procédures, outils, méthodes, règles, l'organisation et les responsabilités ainsi que les interfaces.
Software Quality Assurance Plan	11.5.a	[英文]Environment: A description of the SQA environment, including scope, organizational responsibilities and interfaces, standards, procedures, tools and methods. [法文] Environnement : Description de l'environnement de SQA, y compris le champ d'application, l'organisation et les responsabilités ainsi que les interfaces, règles, procédures, outils, et méthodes.

 

显然，这里的interfaces不同于“hardware and software interfaces”。那么如何理解三份计划中的interfaces呢？

 

在11.3.a中，明确指出这是指软件验证过程与其他软件生存周期过程的interfaces。按此推理，11.4.a应该是指软件配置管理过程与其他软件生存周期过程的interfaces， 11.5.a 应该是指软件质量保证过程与其他软件生存周期过程的interfaces。

 

查找了英语词典，觉得这个interface应取以下译义：

1）A point or means of interaction between two systems, disciplines, groups, etc.（Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.）

2）A point at which independent systems or diverse groups interact。（The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.）

3）相互联系，相互联络。（《英汉大辞典》）

 

就是说，三份计划中所说的interfaces应理解为各个软件生存周期过程的参与者之间的联系、关系、交接。

 

GJB 438B-2009《软件配置管理计划》第3章“组织和职责”中规定，“说明与软件配置管理相关的人员（如项目经理、部门软件配置管理组组长）在软件配置管理中的职责；描述上述人员之间的关系。适用时，本条还应描述需方及用户等与软件配置管理机构之间的关系”。

 

GJB 438B-2009《软件质量保证计划》第3章“组织和职责”中规定，应描述“部门内部软件质量保证组与项目软件质量保证组的关系”。

 

上述两段描述中的“关系”应该就是interfaces。不过，按DO-178B/ED-12B的要求是要描述软件质量保证过程与其他软件生存周期过程的关系，而不仅仅是两个软件质量保证组的关系。

 

需要注意表1中英文与法文的差异。我们一般把“Organizational responsibilities”翻译为“组织的职责”，但法文版把它译为“组织与职责”，这倒是与GJB 438B-2009以及其他标准一致了。实际上，在描述职责时，一般先描述组织的结构组成，然后描述各类成员的职责。

 

还要注意：

1）11.3.a的开头是Organization，而11.4.a与11.5.a的开头是Environment。

2）在11.1 Plan for Software Aspects of Certification与11.2 Software Development Plan中没有要求描述interfaces。

 

其他一些国外的软件计划模板中也使用了interfaces。例如：

1）Rational Unified Process(RUP)的软件配置管理计划模板中有这样一条：

2.1  Organization, Responsibilities, and Interfaces

[Describe who is going to be responsible for performing the various Configuration Management (CM) activities described in the CM Process Discipline.]

2）美国国务院卫生和人类服务部的EPLC（Enterprise Performance Life Cycle）的软件质量保证计划模板中有这样一条：

2.1 Organization, Responsibilities, and Interfaces

[Describe the primary roles and responsibilities of the project staff as it relates to the practice of Quality Management for the project. Indicate responsibilities for activities such as mentoring or coaching, auditing work products, auditing processes, participating in project reviews, etc.]

 

为什么要在计划中描述interfaces？在“The AMA handbook of project management”（作者：Paul C. Dinsmore,Jeannette Cabanis-Brewin）一书中有如下解释：

These interfaces can generally be identified and controlled, normally via procedures or established protocols.  Clearly defining interfaces highlights where communication is needed and which areas may cause potential communication problems.

 

最后，摘录“The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language”中对interface的更多说明：

The noun interface has been around since the 1880s, meaning “a surface forming a common boundary, as between bodies or regions.” But the word did not really take off until the 1960s, when it began to be used in the computer industry to designate the point of interaction between a computer and another system, such as a printer. The word was applied to other interactions as well—between departments in an organization, for example, or between fields of study. Shortly thereafter interface developed a use as a verb, but it never really caught on outside its niche in the computer world, where it still thrives. The Usage Panel has been unable to muster much enthusiasm for the verb. Thirty-seven percent of Panelists accept it when it designates the interaction between people in the sentence. The managing editor must interface with a variety of freelance editors and proofreaders. But the percentage drops to 22 when the interaction is between a corporation and the public or between various communities in a city. Many Panelists complain that interface is pretentious and jargony. Certainly, it has no shortage of acceptable synonyms; cooperate, deal, exchange information, interact, and work present themselves as ready substitutes.