In a world increasingly reliant on technology, it is only natural that the importance of quality in software development be the focus of companies and information technology professionals.

However, something simple may become a real nightmare in the day to day of many businesses, since the quality of software can be a very subjective concept for some.

Therefore, we need to think about what it entails and how to develop quality software from 4 principles that will definitely improve the end result of the product.

Want to know more? Then keep reading. Enjoy! 

What is quality in software development?

To put it simply, quality in software development is a series of varied characteristics which are present in the final product that aims to meet the needs of its users.

Quality can focus on performance and security, for example, and leave other elements aside, such as usability, because these items will depend on the target audience of the system.

A modern example is Snapchat, which has dubious usability features. However, because the social network audience is made up of teenagers and young adults, the usability of the app is adequate —with several caveats.

Still, in our understanding there are basic premises for a quality system. These are principles that help to create software tailored to various audiences and thus raise its positive perception. 

How to develop quality software?

The process of developing quality software is very simple, because it has a clear vision and solid pillars of the standards to be built. In this sense, we understand that there are 4 principles which need to be met: 

1. Performance

Quality software needs to perform well in order to work. Period. This involves agility in loading screens, records, and performing information processing.

Whether it is a simpler or more robust system, users must not get stuck on endless loading screens and other similar situations. Commands need to be serviced promptly for the solution to be really useful to the users.

Agile systems dazzle users and make adaptation much easier.

2. Reliability

Reliability involves the correct handling of information, whether in database recovery, registration of new items, or changes from common use.

A system must not compromise data or perform calculations in the wrong way. What the user expects, in relation to the behavior of the software, is what needs to be accomplished at the end of the day.

Therefore, reliability in handling information is an essential component in developing quality software.

Read also: What is automated testing: its importance and how to start using it on a day-to-day basis

3. Security

Performance and reliability are essential to the quality of a system, but they need a third component in this equation: software security.

Even if the system does not hold critical or sensitive information, it is essential that data is secure in relational databases, protected against access by unauthorized and/or malicious people.

With this considered, we are close to meeting all the principles needed for high quality software, but we still have one more component to form a solid foundation of quality.

You may also like this theme: Cybersecurity for businesses: 5 tips to stay protected and avoid real threats

4. Usability (UI/UX)

The last element needed to develop quality software is usability. Both UX design and UI design must considered here — this, from our point of view, is non-negotiable.

Good performance, reliability and safety aside, when we think of a commercial system it is also important to deliver a tool that can be used without much difficulty.

Remember that complex ERP that requires a lot of training to be understood and used to its fullest? This is the kind of scenario we need to avoid. Quality software needs to have few — or no — barriers to use.

Therefore, all the various profiles of users should be taken into account, whether they are technology savvy or not.

Read also: Microinteractions: what they are, what their importance is, and 5 examples in daily life

How to evaluate the quality of a software

Thus, software should meet these 4 principles in order to be considered high quality.

In a nutshell, this means that a software needs to perform well, be reliable in data manipulation, have good security, and also have a good interface and user experience. The sum of these items will define the final quality of the product.

Based on this premise, the evaluation of software quality is quite simple. If some (or any) of these principles are overlooked, the quality of the software will not be up to standard.

The good news, in this case, is that low quality can be reversed with the evolution of the system and development of the missing points. Thus, the system can evolve to fully serve users and, likewise, achieve the desired results.

Do you like the content? Take the opportunity to read our quality software case: Alienation Engineering and ALIEN system: how LogAp developed a customized solution for CHESF

See you next time!