Function-Oriented

Software Design

Dr. R. Mall

1
Organization of this
Lecture
● Brief review of last lecture
● Introduction to function-oriented design
● Structured Analysis and Structured
Design
● Data flow diagrams (DFDs)
● A major objective of this lecture is that you
should be able to develop DFD model for any
problem.
● Examples
● Summary
2
Introduction
● Function-oriented design
techniques are very popular:
● currently in use in many software
development organizations.
● Function-oriented design
techniques:
● start with the functional requirements
specified in the SRS document.

3
Introduction
● During the design process:
● high-level functions are
successively decomposed:
● into more detailed functions.
● finally the detailed functions are
mapped to a module structure.

4
Introduction
● Successive decomposition of
high-level functions:
● into more detailed functions.
● Technically known as
top-down decomposition.

5
Introduction
● SA/SD methodology:
● has essential features of several
important function-oriented
design methodologies ---
● if you need to use any specific
design methodology later on,
● you can do so easily with small
additional effort.

6
SA/SD (Structured
Analysis/Structured Design)
● SA/SD technique draws heavily
from the following methodologies:
● Constantine and Yourdon's
methodology
● Hatley and Pirbhai's methodology
● Gane and Sarson's methodology
● DeMarco and Yourdon's methodology
● SA/SD technique can be used to
perform
● high-level design.
7
Overview of SA/SD
Methodology
● SA/SD methodology consists of
two distinct activities:
● Structured Analysis (SA)
● Structured Design (SD)
● During structured analysis:
● functional decomposition takes
place.
● During structured design:
● module structure is formalized.
8
Functional
decomposition
● Each function is analyzed:
● hierarchically decomposed
into more detailed functions.
● simultaneous decomposition
of high-level data
●into more detailed data.

9
Structured analysis
● Transforms a textual
problem description into a
graphic model.
● done using data flow
diagrams (DFDs).
● DFDs graphically represent
the results of structured
analysis.
10
Structured design
● All the functions represented in
the DFD:
● mapped to a module structure.
● The module structure:
● also called as the software
architecture:

11
Detailed Design
● Software architecture:
● refined through detailed
design.
● Detailed design can be
directly implemented:
●using a conventional
programming language.

12
Structured Analysis vs.
Structured Design
● Purpose of structured analysis:
● capture the detailed structure of
the system as the user views it.
● Purpose of structured design:
● arrive at a form that is suitable
for implementation in some
programming language.

13
Structured Analysis vs.
Structured Design
● The results of structured analysis can be
easily understood even by ordinary
customers:
● does not require computer knowledge
● directly represents customer’s perception of
the problem
● uses customer’s terminology for naming
different functions and data.
● The results of structured analysis can be
reviewed by customers:
● to check whether it captures all their
requirements.
14
Structured Analysis
● Based on principles of:
● Top-down decomposition approach.
● Divide and conquer principle:
● each function is considered individually
(i.e. isolated from other functions)
● decompose functions totally disregarding
what happens in other functions.
● Graphical representation of results
using
● data flow diagrams (or bubble charts).

15
Data flow diagrams
● DFD is an elegant modelling
technique:
● useful not only to represent the results
of structured analysis
● applicable to other areas also:
● e.g. for showing the flow of documents or
items in an organization,
● DFD technique is very popular
because
● it is simple to understand and use.
16
Data flow diagram

● DFD is a hierarchical
graphical model:
● shows the different functions
(or processes) of the system
and
● data interchange among the
processes.

17
DFD Concepts
● It is useful to consider each
function as a processing
station:
● each function consumes some
input data and
● produces some output data.

18
Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)
● Primitive Symbols Used for Constructing DFDs:

External entity

Data flow
Functional symbol

Output symbol Data store

19
Data Flow Model of a Car
Assembly Unit
Engine Store Door Store

Chassis with Partly

Engine Assembled
Fit Fit Car Fit Paint and
Engine Doors Wheels Test
Assembled
Car Car

Chassis Store Wheel Store

20
Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)

● A DFD model:
● uses limited types of symbols.
● simple set of rules
● easy to understand:
●it is a hierarchical model.

21
Hierarchical model
● Human mind can easily
understand any hierarchical
model:
● in a hierarchical model:
● we start with a very simple and
abstract model of a system,
● details are slowly introduced
through the hierarchies.

22
Hierarchical Model

23
External Entity Symbol
● Represented by a rectangle
● External entities are real Librarian
physical entities:
● input data to the system or
● consume data produced by the
system.
● Sometimes external entities are
called terminator, source, or sink.
24
Function Symbol
● A function such as “search-book” is
represented using a circle: search-b
● This symbol is called a ook
process or bubble or transform.
● Bubbles are annotated with
corresponding function names.
● Functions represent some activity:
● function names should be verbs.

25
Data Flow Symbol

● A directed arc or line.

book-name
● represents data flow in the
direction of the arrow.
● Data flow symbols are
annotated with names of data
they carry.

26
Data Store Symbol
● Represents a logical file:
● A logical file can be:
book-details
● a data structure
● a physical file on disk.
● Each data store is connected
to a process:
●by means of a data flow symbol.

27
Data Store Symbol
● Direction of data flow arrow:find-book
● shows whether data is being read
from or written into it. Books
● An arrow into or out of a data
store:
● implicitly represents the entire data of
the data store
● arrows connecting to a data store need
not be annotated with any data name.

28
Output Symbol

● Output produced by the system

29
Synchronous operation

● If two bubbles are directly

connected by a data flow arrow:
● they are synchronous
Read-num number Validate-n
bers umbers
0.1 0.2 Valid
Data-items number

30
Asynchronous operation
● If two bubbles are connected via a
data store:
● they are not synchronous.
Read-num Validate-n
bers umbers
0.1 0.2
numbers Valid
Data-items number

31
Yourdon's vs. Gane Sarson
Notations

● The notations that we would be

following are closer to the Yourdon's
notations
● You may sometimes find notations in
books that are slightly different
● For example, the data store may look like
a box with one end closed

32
How is Structured Analysis
Performed?
● Initially represent the software
at the most abstract level:
● called the context diagram.
● the entire system is represented
as a single bubble,
● this bubble is labelled according
to the main function of the
system.

33
Tic-tac-toe: Context
Diagram

Tic-tac-toe
display software

move
Human Player

34
Context Diagram
● A context diagram shows:
●data input to the system,
●output data generated by
the system,
●external entities.

35
Context Diagram
● Context diagram captures:
● various entities external to the
system and interacting with it.
● data flow occurring between the
system and the external entities.
● The context diagram is also
called as the level 0 DFD.

36
Context Diagram
● Context diagram
● establishes the context of the
system, i.e.
● represents:
●Data sources
●Data sinks.

37
Level 1 DFD
● Examine the SRS document:
● Represent each high-level
function as a bubble.
● Represent data input to every
high-level function.
● Represent data output from every
high-level function.

38
Higher level DFDs
● Each high-level function is
separately decomposed into
subfunctions:
● identify the subfunctions of the
function
● identify the data input to each
subfunction
● identify the data output from each
subfunction
● These are represented as DFDs.
39
Decomposition
● Decomposition of a bubble:
● also called factoring or
exploding.
● Each bubble is decomposed
to
● between 3 to 7 bubbles.

40
Decomposition

● Too few bubbles make

decomposition superfluous:
● if a bubble is decomposed to
just one or two bubbles:
●then this decomposition is
redundant.

41
Decomposition
● Too many bubbles:
●more than 7 bubbles at any
level of a DFD
●make the DFD model hard
to understand.

42
Decompose how long?

● Decomposition of a
bubble should be carried
on until:
●a level at which the
function of the bubble can
be described using a
simple algorithm.
43
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software

● Consider a software called RMS

calculating software:
● reads three integers in the range
of -1000 and +1000
● finds out the root mean square
(rms) of the three input numbers
● displays the result.

44
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software

● The context diagram is

simple to develop:
●The system accepts 3
integers from the user
●returns the result to him.

45
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software

Data-items Compute-
RMS
0

User result

Context Diagram

46
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software

● From a cursory analysis of

the problem description:
●we can see that the system
needs to perform several
things.

47
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software

● Accept input numbers from

the user:
● validate the numbers,
● calculate the root mean
square of the input numbers
● display the result.

48
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software
numbers
Read-num Validate-n
bers umbers
0.1 0.2
Valid
Data-items -numbers
error

Compute-
Display rms
0.4 0.3

result RMS

49
Example 1: RMS Calculating
Software
Squared-s
Calculate-sq um Calculate-m
uared-sum ean
0.3.1 0.3.2

Valid Mean-sq
-numbers uare
Calculate-ro
ot
0.3.3

RMS

50
Example: RMS Calculating
Software
a b
c
Square Square Square
0.3.1.1 0.3.1.2 0.3.1.3

bsq
asq csq
Sum
0.3.1.4

Squared-sum

51
Example: RMS Calculating
Software
● Decomposition is never
carried on up to basic
instruction level:
● a bubble is not decomposed
any further:
●if it can be represented by a
simple set of instructions.

52
Data Dictionary
● A DFD is always accompanied by a data
dictionary.
● A data dictionary lists all data items
appearing in a DFD:
● definition of all composite data items in
terms of their component data items.
● all data names along with the purpose of
data items.
● For example, a data dictionary entry may
be:
● grossPay = regularPay+overtimePay
53
Importance of Data
Dictionary
● Provides all engineers in a project
with standard terminology for all
data:
● A consistent vocabulary for data is
very important
● different engineers tend to use
different terms to refer to the same
data,
● causes unnecessary confusion.

54
Importance of Data
Dictionary
● Data dictionary provides the
definition of different data:
● in terms of their component elements.
● For large systems,
● the data dictionary grows rapidly in
size and complexity.
● Typical projects can have thousands of
data dictionary entries.
● It is extremely difficult to maintain
such a dictionary manually.
55
Data Dictionary
● CASE (Computer Aided
Software Engineering) tools
come handy:
● CASE tools capture the data
items appearing in a DFD
automatically to generate the
data dictionary.

56
Data Dictionary
● CASE tools support queries:
● about definition and usage of data items.
● For example, queries may be made to
find:
● which data item affects which processes,
● a process affects which data items,
● the definition and usage of specific data
items, etc.
● Query handling is facilitated:
● if data dictionary is stored in a relational
database management system (RDBMS).
57
Data Definition
● Composite data are defined in terms of
primitive data items using following
operators:
● +: denotes composition of data items,
e.g
● a+b represents data a and b.
● [,,,]: represents selection,
● i.e. any one of the data items listed inside the
square bracket can occur.
● For example, [a,b] represents either a occurs
or b occurs.
58
Data Definition
● ( ): contents inside the bracket
represent optional data
● which may or may not appear.
● a+(b) represents either a or a+b
occurs.
● {}: represents iterative data
definition,
● e.g. {name}5 represents five name
data.
59
Data Definition
● {name}* represents
● zero or more instances of name data.
● = represents equivalence,
● e.g. a=b+c means that a represents b
and c.
● * *: Anything appearing within *
* is considered as comment.

60
Data dictionary for RMS
Software
● numbers=valid-numbers=a+b+c
● a:integer * input number *
● b:integer * input number *
● c:integer * input number *
● asq:integer
● bsq:integer
● csq:integer
● squared-sum: integer
● Result=[RMS,error]
● RMS: integer * root mean square value*
● error:string * error message*

61
Balancing a DFD
● Data flowing into or out of a bubble:
● must match the data flows at the next level
of DFD.
● This is known as balancing a DFD
● In the level 1 of the DFD,
● data item c flows into the bubble P3 and the
data item d and e flow out.
● In the next level, bubble P3 is
decomposed.
● The decomposition is balanced as data item c
flows into the level 2 diagram and d and e
flow out.
62
Balancing a DFD
c
b c

c1
d1

a d
e
Level 1 d e1
e
Level 2

63
Numbering of Bubbles:
● Number the bubbles in a DFD:
● numbers help in uniquely identifying any
bubble from its bubble number.
● The bubble at context level:
● assigned number 0.
● Bubbles at level 1:
● numbered 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, etc
● When a bubble numbered x is
decomposed,
● its children bubble are numbered x.1, x.2,
x.3, etc.

64
Example 2: Tic-Tac-Toe
Computer Game
● A human player and the computer make
alternate moves on a 3 3 square.
● A move consists of marking a previously
unmarked square.
● The user inputs a number between 1
and 9 to mark a square
● Whoever is first to place three
consecutive marks along a straight line
(i.e., along a row, column, or diagonal)
on the square wins.
65
Example: Tic-Tac-Toe
Computer Game
● As soon as either of the human player or
the computer wins,
● a message announcing the winner should be
displayed.
● If neither player manages to get three
consecutive marks along a straight line,
● and all the squares on the board are filled up,
● then the game is drawn.
● The computer always tries to win a
game.

66
Context Diagram for
Example
Tic-tac-toe
software
display 0

move
Human Player

67
Level 1 DFD
Display- game
board
move 0.1 result

Validate- Check-w
move board inner
0.2 0.4

Play-mo
ve
0.3

68
Data dictionary
● Display=game + result
● move = integer
● board = {integer}9
● game = {integer}9
● result=string

69
Summary
● We discussed a sample
function-oriented software design
methodology:
● Structured Analysis/Structured
Design(SA/SD)
● incorporates features from some
important design methodologies.
● SA/SD consists of two parts:
● structured analysis
● structured design.
70
Summary
● The goal of structured analysis:
● functional decomposition of the
system.
● Results of structured analysis:
● represented using Data Flow Diagrams
(DFDs).
● We examined why any hierarchical
model is easy to understand.
● Number 7 is called the magic number.
71
Summary
● During structured design,
● the DFD representation is
transformed to a structure chart
representation.
● DFDs are very popular:
● because it is a very simple
technique.

72
Summary
● A DFD model:
● difficult to implement using a
programming language:
● structure chart representation
can be easily implemented
using a programming
language.

73
Summary
● We discussed structured
analysis of two small
examples:
●RMS calculating software
●tic-tac-toe computer game
software

74
Summary
● Several CASE tools are
available:
● support structured analysis and
design.
● maintain the data dictionary,
● check whether DFDs are balanced
or not.

75