Using Composition Trees to Validate an Entry Profile of Software Engineering Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs)

Abstract

ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-1 provides a Software Engineering life cycle reference model for Very Small Entities on small software projects (less than 6 people month). This paper uses Composition Trees (CT) as a formal notation to model part of this process, and compares it with its counterpart process (which is also modeled in a CT) from ISO/IEC 12207. The outcome of the comparison is a Comparison Composition Tree (CCT). This CCT shows clearly the similarity and difference between the VSE Entry Profile and ISC12207. This information may help people to validate and understand the VSE Profile. This paper also proposes this approach can be used as a general approach for people to develop, study, and implement software processes.