ABSTRACT
Executive summary: The V-Model methodology was developed in Germany and is (was?) mandatory for governmental and military projects there. It is a full life-cycle methodology that emphasizes the importance of testing—“develop tests simultaneously with other steps.” This method is an older approach that may be considered an extension of the waterfall model. Although it is unlikely that anyone would adopt this approach for a current era project, it nonetheless includes ideas that are valuable and certainly applicable to other more modern approaches such as the Rational Unified Process (RUP). The central notion, as illustrated by Figure 63.1 , is that tests are designed in parallel with each phase of the life cycle. The value of early detection of defects is well understood and is one of the key elements necessary to achieve minimum cost and schedule and maximum delivered quality, regardless of the methodology chosen. The early design of tests in parallel with each development phase or iteration can be an effective basis for early defect detection and removal.
