Software Reviews are “a process or meeting during which a software product is examined by a project personnel, managers, users, customers, user representatives or other interested parties for comment or approval”. Reviews help reduce the cost of a software development cycle by identifying defects early on and providing a platform for discussing solutions. They also help improve team communication and increase overall product quality.
What are the three types of software?
Writing an effective Software Review requires a thorough examination of the software’s features, performance and usability. In addition, a review should be objective and include examples, a rating system and screenshots when possible. Lastly, be honest; if you don’t like something about the software, tell your readers.
There are many different types of software reviews: informal, technical, inspection, and walkthrough reviews. Informal peer reviews are less structured and often involve asking a colleague to check code or other work products with no formal process in place. Technical reviews are more formal, typically involving a team of diverse members with various roles and perspectives. Inspection reviews are more in-process and focus on a specific part of the process or system under review, and they may involve the use of a formal defect detection or resolving process.
The most important aspect of writing an effective software review is addressing the end-user’s questions, revealing what the software can and cannot do well. Additionally, the review should address what demographic the software is aimed at and provide the reader with an overall recommendation.