[Database class] Software technique Stepwise refinement

[Paul S. Wang]

Dear DB class,

When doing your db class project you should consider using software
engineering technologies/methods.  One such method is called stepwise
refinement.

(1) Work on the requirements, the functionalities the system must support
    when it is finished.

(2) A design of the large components and their inter-relationships to
    satisfy the requirements

(3) Design each component separately, paying attention to its internal
    workings and its external interface needs

(4) Develop a working system without much attention to "nice features" 
    for convenience or efficiency.

(5) Improve the system and refine it by adding features and bells and
    whistles one step at a time,  testing as you go

This method can save time and make constructing a complicated system
much easier.

Paul

-- 
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 Paul S. Wang (王士弘)                      Email: pwang at cs.kent.edu            
 Dept. of Computer Science, Kent State U.   Tel: (330) 672-9051
 Kent, Ohio, USA 44242-0001                 http://www.cs.kent.edu/~pwang/ 
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