Software Requirements Specification: Understandable Framework

If you're building a big and important software system with many moving parts and different people involved, having a clear and detailed software requirements specification is an absolute must. Without that solid foundation of exactly what the system needs to do, the dev team is flying blind - they won't know how to design it, what to build, or how to test it properly. In some industries like healthcare or banking, you can't start coding without the requirements document locked down first; it's the law. If you need an individual approach, book a call.

Software Requirements Specification Definition

In a traditional software project, the software requirements specification (SRS) would focus primarily on the functional and non-functional requirements for the application itself – the features, user interactions, performance targets, security needs, and so on. But in a DevOps-as-a-Service (DaaS) environment, the SRS has to be much more expansive.

Beyond defining the application requirements, the SRS for a DaaS solution needs to document the infrastructure and automation requirements, workflows, and resources deeply.

• The specific cloud platform, services, and resource specifications needed to host and run the application
• The containerization, scaling, and multi-region deployment parameters
• CI/CD pipeline requirements for automated testing, building, and deploying the application
• Monitoring, alerting, and incident response targets to ensure reliability and performance
• Verification processes such as security scanning, compliance, and access control policies
• Operational procedures for managing logs, backups, releases, and configurations, with updates handled through a controlled process.

The DaaS SRS has to paint a picture of the entire software ecosystem – not just the end-user application but the underlying infrastructure, tooling, and processes required to deliver it as a seamless cloud service. So, while a traditional SRS is focused on defining the application, a DaaS SRS has to take a much broader, platform-centric perspective. It's a foundation for aligning all stakeholders – business, development, operations – on exactly what needs to be built and how, emphasizing clarity in communication. Book a call if you want to always be on the cutting edge of technology.

How To Make a Correct Software Requirements Specification Document?

One of the most important first steps when building a new software system is analyzing and nailing down a solid software requirements specification. This document is the foundation that lays out exactly what the software needs to do – all the features and capabilities, the user interactions, the behind-the-scenes data processing, and the quality standards it has to meet. It aligns everyone – the business folks, the developers, the end-users – on a shared understanding of the final product.

Engage Stakeholders Thoroughly

• Identify and involve all relevant stakeholders – users, subject matter experts, developers, operations, etc.
• Conduct comprehensive interviews, workshops, and reviews to thoroughly understand their needs and constraints and to document their behaviors and expectations.

Define Functional Requirements

• Clearly document all the features, capabilities, and user interactions the system must provide.
• Specify how data will be processed, transformed, and presented.
• Capture error handling, edge cases, and exception scenarios to anticipate potential risks.

Specify Non-Functional Requirements

• Establish performance targets for speed, scalability, and responsiveness.
• Define security, privacy, and compliance requirements.
• Outline reliability, availability, and recoverability needs.
• Capture usability, accessibility, and internationalization standards with prototyping techniques when needed.

Document External Interfaces

• Specify hardware, software, and communications interfaces.
• Describe data exchange formats and integration points.
• Identify any third-party APIs, libraries, or systems the software must interoperate with, using models to represent these integrations visually.

Ensure Quality and Consistency

• Use clear, unambiguous language throughout the document.
• Maintain consistency in terminology, formatting, and level of detail.
• Cross-reference-related requirements to maintain traceability.
• Subject the SRS to thorough reviews, testing, and validation.

Maintain Traceability and Changeability

• Assign unique identifiers to each requirement.
• Link requirements to design elements, test cases, and user stories, ensuring consistency with development methodologies.
• Establish a change management process to control and track modifications.

Organize for Readability and Navigation

• Use a structured, hierarchical format with clear section headings.
• Include an executive summary, table of contents, and glossary.
• Leverage visualizations, diagrams, and examples as appropriate.

The Software Requirements Specification Example

With this SRS as a foundation, the dev team has a crystal-clear understanding of exactly what needs to be built. It's going to be an invaluable reference point throughout the project lifecycle.

1. Executive Summary

This SRS defines the requirements for a mobile app that allows users to easily track and manage personal expenses. The app will provide core functionality for creating, categorizing, and reporting expense transactions and integrating with a bank account for automated imports.

2. Functional Requirements
   1. Expense Tracking
      • Users manually add new expense transactions, specifying the date, amount, merchant, category, and optional notes/receipt photo.
      • Users edit and delete existing expense transactions.
      • Transactions are automatically categorized based on merchant information, with users being able to override the category.
      • Users apply filters to view expenses by date range, category, merchant, etc.
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   2. Bank Integration
      • Users connect their bank account(s) to automatically import transaction data.
      • Imported transactions can be reviewed, categorized, and added to the user's expense history.
      • Users will be able to set rules to automatically categorize imported transactions.
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   3. Reporting & Analytics
      • Users view monthly/yearly expense reports showing total spending, category breakdown, etc.
      • The app will provide visualizations like spending trend charts and category pie charts.
      • Users can export expense data in CSV format.

3. Non-Functional Requirements
   1. Usability
      • The app must have an intuitive, user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
      • All core functionality should be accessible within 2-3 taps/clicks.
      • The design should follow platform-specific guidelines for iOS and Android.
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   2. Performance
      • Transaction data should load and render within 2 seconds, even for users with large expense histories.
      • Expense reports and analytics should be generated in under 5 seconds.
        ‍
   3. Security & Privacy
      • All user data must be encrypted at rest and in transit.
      • The app will not store or have access to any payment card information.
      • Users must authenticate with a PIN or biometric before accessing sensitive features.
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4. System Architecture
   1. Client Application
      • Cross-platform mobile app built using React Native
      • Utilizes local SQLite database for storing user expense data
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   2. Backend Services
      • Node.js/Express.js API server for handling user authentication and data synchronization
      • Integration with bank account aggregation service (e.g., Plaid) for transaction imports
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   3. Infrastructure
      • AWS hosting for API server and database
      • Automated CI/CD pipeline for building, testing, and deploying client and server components
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5. Project Timeline and Milestones
   1. Phase 1 (2 months)
      • Implement core expense tracking functionality
      • Enable manual expense entry and categorization
      • Provide basic reporting and export capabilities
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   2.  Phase 2 (3 months)
      • Integrate bank account connectivity
      • Develop automated transaction import and categorization
      • Enhance reporting with advanced analytics and visualizations
        
        
   3. Phase 3 (1 month)
      • Polish user interface and interactions
      • Implement security and privacy measures
      • Finalize testing and deployment to app stores

Resolving Requirements Conflicts with a Solid Software Specification

A mid-sized software company was building a new customer relationship management (CRM) system for a large enterprise client. The initial project kickoff went well, and the development team got to work translating the client's high-level requirements into a detailed SRS document.

A few months into the project, the client's executive team requested a major change – they wanted the CRM system to integrate directly with the company's existing accounting software so all customer invoices and payments could be managed within the new CRM. This requirement had not been included in the original SRS.

The developers pushed back, explaining this new integration would require significant additional work and delay the project timeline. The client insisted it was critical, and tensions escalated between the teams.

The project manager on the development side quickly referenced the comprehensive SRS that had been meticulously documented and agreed upon at the start. They pointed out that the SRS did not mention an accounting system integration and that this major new requirement fell outside the original scope.

Armed with the SRS, the project manager would have a constructive discussion with the client. They acknowledged the importance of the accounting integration but explained that incorporating it would require re-evaluating the budget. Using the SRS as an objective reference point, the two teams could collaborate and agree on a plan to add the new integration as a subsequent phase without disrupting the original project timeline.

If the development team had not had the SRS to rely on, the client's sudden requirement change could have quickly devolved into an acrimonious conflict. Instead, the SRS provided a neutral foundation that allowed both sides to have a productive conversation, properly scope the new work, and reach a mutually agreeable resolution.

This graph conveys that there is significantly less content on Google surrounding software requirements than for other software development-related subject areas.

Updating the Software Requirements Specification During Development

As a DevOps service provider, DATAFOREST considers that while the software requirements specification is critical at the start of a software project, it's also ordinary and often necessary to change it as development progresses. New information, user feedback, and technical considerations can warrant modifications to the original requirements. These changes must be managed carefully to preserve the project's integrity.

Establish a formal change control process that defines the procedures for reviewing, approving, and documenting any SRS changes. Maintain traceability between requirements, design, and testing to understand the full impact of proposed changes. Before approving, review how revisions will affect the project timeline, budget, and other requirements.

Communicate approved changes transparently to all stakeholders, updating relevant project documentation. Maintain version control over the SRS, ensuring the latest approved version is the single source of truth. Validate those new and modified requirements function as expected through thorough regression testing.

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FAQ

What is the software requirements specification by itself?

A software requirements specification is a detailed document that outlines a software system's functional and non-functional requirements. It is a foundation for understanding what needs to be built and aligning all stakeholders on the project's objectives.

What software requirements specification definition can you give in the context of the DevOps service?

In DevOps-as-a-Service, a software requirements specification expands to include the application's requirements and the infrastructure, automation, and operational processes necessary for delivering it seamlessly as a cloud service. It outlines specifications like CI/CD pipelines, monitoring systems, and deployment strategies.

Name the vital options of a software requirements specification document.

An SRS document should include functional and non-functional requirements, external interface details, performance targets, security specifications, and traceability elements. It should also be well-structured for readability and include a glossary and visual diagrams when helpful.

Give an illustrative software requirements specification example.

An SRS for an e-commerce platform might specify user functions such as browsing items, adding products to a cart, checkout processes, and performance expectations like response times under peak load and integration points with third-party payment systems. It also would cover data security policies to protect customer information.

Is there only one primary way to create software requirements specifications?

Multiple methods exist for creating an SRS, such as structured templates, agile user stories, or formal use-case documents. The approach often depends on the project's complexity, industry standards, and the team's preferences.