Study on software reliability design criteria based on defect patterns

Software reliability design criteria, one of the primary means to improve software reliability, could help to summarize experience and lessons learned. Nowadays, more and more organizations are putting emphasis on the collection and utilization of software defects. Software defects are the root causes for software failures. Therefore, software reliability design criteria based on the analysis of the defects could avoid the occurrence of similar defects and improve software quality. This paper investigates the idea of studying software reliability design criteria on the basis of defect patterns. Through the analysis of defect data, we advance a defect classification suitable for each software development phase and the definition of software defect patterns. The software defect patterns in requirement analysis, design and coding phase are listed. One method to solve the problem of how to convert from defect patterns to reliability design criteria is proposed. Subsequently the reliability design criteria in requirement analysis, design and coding phase are expounded by using the method. The reliability design criteria are tested to be practical and valid in application examples.