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Have you ever written software for critical systems, such as pacemakers or nuclear power stations? Or a role where software integrates with large electrical and

Have you ever written software for critical systems, such as pacemakers or nuclear power stations? Or a role where software integrates with large electrical and mechanical engineering teams? This is fine for some projects but there are other projects where "doing the damn job" is a bad idea or even illegal. Requirements engineering for a startup iterating quickly is pointless but for a well-defined critical system makes more sense.

jdthedisciple 3y ago
While I see your point pointing out potential exceptions, your examples imo sound least suitable for something like "I as user want to sort my notes alphabetically" aka User Stories. Rather, for those critical cases you mention, frameworks like the Waterfall- or V-model, in combination with proper testing, perhaps seem much more called for to ensure compliance, security, and rigidity.
- EddieEngineers 3y ago
  That's fair, I was focused on defending requirements engineering in general than just user stories. But yes you'd follow something like the V-model and you'd need these requirements, that could resemble something like user stories, to fill out a remarkably boring requirements traceability matrix on the other side. If you look at Appendix C of IBMs manual on writing requirements in DOORS [0] you'll see they can easily turn into something similar to "I as a user...". Not that I think that fits everything, nor do I think anyone should need to use DOORS lol. [0] https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSYQBZ_9.7.0/com.ibm.doors.requirements.doc/topics/get_it_right_the_first_time.pdf https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSYQBZ_9.7.0/com.ibm.doors.requi...
- slothtrop 3y ago
  You'll admit however that User Stories =/= Requirements Engineering, or by extension AGILE/SOLID. Stories may be a component of those, but there are alternatives.
  - jdlshore 3y ago
    “Agile” is not an acronym, FYI. (And SOLID is a collection of five object-oriented design principles. Not sure why you put them together like that.)
- codyb 3y ago
  I as a user would like to maintain a beating heart is a pretty compelling story though.
  - jdthedisciple 3y ago
    Not a very useful thing to write down though, is it? I mean sure, if there truly was some uncertainty about this left.

jdthedisciple 3y ago

While I see your point pointing out potential exceptions, your examples imo sound least suitable for something like "I as user want to sort my notes alphabetically" aka User Stories. Rather, for those critical cases you mention, frameworks like the Waterfall- or V-model, in combination with proper testing, perhaps seem much more called for to ensure compliance, security, and rigidity.

EddieEngineers 3y ago
That's fair, I was focused on defending requirements engineering in general than just user stories. But yes you'd follow something like the V-model and you'd need these requirements, that could resemble something like user stories, to fill out a remarkably boring requirements traceability matrix on the other side. If you look at Appendix C of IBMs manual on writing requirements in DOORS [0] you'll see they can easily turn into something similar to "I as a user...". Not that I think that fits everything, nor do I think anyone should need to use DOORS lol. [0] https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSYQBZ_9.7.0/com.ibm.doors.requirements.doc/topics/get_it_right_the_first_time.pdf https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSYQBZ_9.7.0/com.ibm.doors.requi...
slothtrop 3y ago
You'll admit however that User Stories =/= Requirements Engineering, or by extension AGILE/SOLID. Stories may be a component of those, but there are alternatives.
- jdlshore 3y ago
  “Agile” is not an acronym, FYI. (And SOLID is a collection of five object-oriented design principles. Not sure why you put them together like that.)
codyb 3y ago
I as a user would like to maintain a beating heart is a pretty compelling story though.
- jdthedisciple 3y ago
  Not a very useful thing to write down though, is it? I mean sure, if there truly was some uncertainty about this left.