An inspection might also be referred to as a fagan inspection after michael fagan, the creator of a very popular software inspection process. Michael fagan is the ceo of michael fagan associates, and the creator of the fagan inspection and defectfree process. Michael fagan, software designer who invented the fagan inspection, a software inspection process a cofounder of shambhala publications this disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. Aug 22, 2019 hence, here is an elaborated discussion on software inspection and its process, role and participants, which will help you get the best software inspection results. Clients used the terms fagan inspection and fagan methodology to differentiate from other forms. Most of the inspection work can be traced back to the original publication of michael fagan. Published by michael fagan in 1976 out of frustration with qa at ibm. A method for detecting defects in conceptual products such as documents, design specifications, and programming code developed by michael fagan. It is named after michael fagan who is credited with being the inventor of formal software inspections.
Software inspection is a quality improvement process of written. Some organizations inspect almost every work product except code, which is tested instead. Pdf in 1976 mike fagan published his seminal paper on inspections of software development documents. The goal of fagan inspection is to make sure that all. A fagan inspection is a process of trying to find defects in documents during various phases of the software development process. Michael fagan helped develop the formal software inspection process at ibm, hence the term fagan inspection.
Michael fagan created the fagan defectfree process of which fagan inspections are a key part to address these requirements. Michael fagan is one of the giants of software engineering because of his work on inspections. A fagan inspection is a structured process of trying to find defects in development documents such as programming code, specifications, designs and others during various phases of the software development process. You see, he explained, we already do code inspections. All participants in the inspection perform the role of inspectors. A survey of software inspection checklists acm sigsoft. I wish michael fagan had come up with all this good stuff 25 years ago and i had. Michael fagan is one of the giants of software engineering because of his work on. I found michael to be a font of knowledge on software quality and able to motivate the worst sceptics.
This paper will explore the history and creation of the software inspection process by michael fagan. It has been 25 years since fagan published the inspection. Commonly inspected work products include software requirements specifications and test plans. Michael fagan originally developed the software inspection process out of sheer frustration 2. Among the most influential and widely used are the formal inspection techniques developed by michael fagan at ibm. Introduction to software engineeringqualitycode inspection. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover michaels. Invented in the early 70s by michael fagan of ibm inspired by production engineering inspection a widely applicable, rigorous and formal software engineering qc technique inspection of any document when it is believed complete and ready for use. What is opensource inspection management software and how it.
Fagan inspection defines a process as a certain activity with prespecified entry and exit criteria. The concept of finding defects as early as possible in the software development process to save time, effort and money seems intuitive in. The term fagan is named after michael fagan, who incorporated various software formal software inspection methods. It is named after michael fagan, who is credited with being the inventor of formal software inspections. Oct 21, 2017 an inspection might also be referred to as a fagan inspection after michael fagan, the creator of a very popular software inspection process. The definition of a formal inspection or software inspection varies a bit depending on who you ask, but its always a small variant on the fagan inspection, including a reading phase where participants examine code separately, an inspection. Since introducing the inspection process in 1974, ibm achieved significant improvements in quality. View michael fagan s profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. It is named after michael fagan, who is credited by whom.
Mike fagan and a few other pba stars took time out to take a photo with my son, andre, a couple of years ago at woodland bowl. Rethinking software development, testing and inspection cio. In each instance, the new uses of inspection were found to improve product. Both researchers and practitioners are trying to resolve the limitations of present inspection techniques which help inspectors to use them in an appropriate scenario.
Michael fagan most people are not aware that the manual static testing methods i. Many checklists have been published since michael fagan created the inspection process in the mid1970s. If there were a nobel prize for software, they say, michael fagan would have been one of its first recipients for creating his now internationally renowned fagan inspection process. The fagan method involves defining entry and exit criteria for creation or production processes, and determining if the software code or other product meets these criteria. Software code, requirements, and designs are inspected for flaws called fagan inspections.
It engages the developers and others in a formal process of investigation that usually detects more. Software inspection is a method of static testing to verify that software meets its requirements. The goal of fagan inspection is to make sure that all the. Fagan inspections are thoroughly discussed in software inspection by tom gilb and dorothy graham addisonwesley, 1993. Abstractthis paper presents new studies and experiences that en hance the use of. Michael fagan first found software inspections yielded a massive productivity improvement when working for ibm in the early 1970s. Michael fagan a history of software inspections inspections are now thirty years old and they continue to improve software quality and maintainability, reduce time to delivery, and lower development costs. Software inspections, which were originally developed by michael fagan in 1976, are an important means to verify and achieve sufficient quality in many software projects today. The idea behind inspection methods can be most directly traced to the work by michael fagan. Software inspection wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
Clients now enjoy consistently more effective and even better results. Named after michael fagan, the creator of a popular software inspection process, software inspection is also known as fagan inspection. Michael fagan invented inspections in 1976 and his company is teaching us how to do it. Michael fagan associates continous process improvement. He created the fagan inspection process while he was a development manager with ibm in the 1970s. Studies and experiences are presented which enhance the use of the inspection process and improve its contribution to development. Software quality problem has become increasingly visible as software has emerged as the dominant factor in determining system costs. Left to right, osku palermaa, pj haggerty, andre campos, mike fagan, bill oneill, jason belmonte. An inspection may also be directed to as a fagan inspection because michael fagan invented the most admired software inspection course. Sep 18, 20 one of them was proposed by michael fagan.
There are a lot of ways to check up the quality of tested product. Fagan commenced training software companies in inspections and process improvement. May 18, 2009 the definition of a formal inspection or software inspection varies a bit depending on who you ask, but its always a small variant on the fagan inspection, including a reading phase where participants examine code separately, an inspection phase everyone together in a room, and strict roles and data collection. Both the articles mentioned software inspection as the definite solution for the above problem which is designed by michael fagan. The goal of fagan inspection is to make sure that all the documentation is correct and clear for understanding, created up to standard. It is named after michael fagan, who is credited with being the. The inspection as described in the ieee standard is basically the same as the fagan inspection, as invented and described by michael fagan in 1976. View michael fagans profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Software inspections were introduced in the 1970s at ibm, which pioneered their early adoption and later evolution. Not that hardware and software sparky and mushhead ever have that problem. Rethinking software development, testing and inspection michael fagan first found software inspections yielded a massive productivity improvement when working for ibm in the early 1970s. An inspection might also be referred to as a fagan inspection after michael fagan. The concept of finding defects as early as possible in the software development process to save time, effort and money seems intuitive in 2001.
Although he is mainly mentioned as the inventor of inspections. Role of inspection in software quality assurance information. Software inspection process input activity output planning activity organize inspections overview activity describe software work products preparation activity analyze software work products meeting activity identify software defects rework activity correct software defects followup activity verify software defect corrections. Michael fagan born 8 august 1948 is a british man who broke into buckingham palace and entered queen elizabeth iis bedroom in 1982. A fagan inspection is a process of trying to find defects in documents such as source code or formal specifications during various phases of the software development process. It engages the developers and others in a formal process of investigation that usually detects more defects in the productand at lower costthan does machine testing. I believe the above are all varying incarnations of the seminal paper which first introduced the fagan inspection method. Inspection roles, participants and process in testing. Some readers will find a great deal of similarity between the. Michael fagan created this process and it is also known as the fagan inspection. In every process for which entry and exit criteria are specified, fagan inspections can be used to validate if the output of the process complies with the exit crit. Michael fagan helped develop the formal software inspection process at ibm, hence the. Request pdf michael fagan michael fagan is the ceo of michael fagan associates, and the creator of the fagan inspection and defectfree process.
Inspections can be applied to any work product, from requirements to test plans to user documentation. The concept of finding defects as early as possible in the software development. Using the inspection method, he was also able to use its metrics to monitor. Since fagan s initial work, the importance of software inspections has been long recognized by software. Since fagan s initial work, the importance of software inspections has been long recognized by software developers and many organizations. Fagan inspections are thoroughly discussed in software inspection by tom. Many checklists have been pub lished since michael fagan created the inspection. It is a structured process that involves detecting defects in development documents like programming code, specifications, designs etc. Several inspection techniques have been developed and applied to software development, ranging from relatively unstructured discussions to inspections with detailed, strictly prescribed procedures. Various proposals have been made by researchers in the hope of improving fagan. Design and code inspections to reduce errors in program development. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover michael s. A fagan inspection is a structured process of trying to find defects in development documents such as programming code, specifications, designs and others during various phases of the software.
The company nearly doubled the number of lines of code shipped for system370 software products since 1976, while the number of defects per thousand lines of code was reduced by twothirds michael fagan, pictured. An inspection may also be directed to as a fagan inspection because michael fagan invented the most admired software inspection. A few months into retirement from the tour, fagan is enjoying his new lifestyle. The company nearly doubled the number of lines of code shipped for system370 software products since. A survey of software inspection checklists semantic scholar. Serves as pba player committee chairman and is on the usbc board of directors. Many checklists have been published since michael fagan created the inspection. This process helps organizations to improve software. Fagan, member, ieee velopment and design and code inspections prompted the adaptation of the principles of the inspection process to inspections of requirements, user information, and docu mentation, and test plans and test cases. Mike fagan adjusting to life after pba tour spare change. Many feel fagan is the inventor of the term software inspection and of software inspections. Highlights of inspection process only, no experimental results. Michael fagan developed the formal software inspection process at ibm in the mid 1970s, hence the term fagan inspection. Invented in the early 70s by michael fagan of ibm inspired by production engineering inspection a widely applicable, rigorous and formal software engineering qc technique inspection.
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