Pass the iSQI CPSA-F CPSA-FL Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

The term 'coupling' in software architecture refers to the degree of direct knowledge that one component has about another. This can be reflected in:A. A building block uses an interface of another building block. - This represents a form of coupling where components interact through well-defined interfaces, influencing the level of dependency between them.D. A building block uses internal data structures of another building block. - This indicates a higher degree of coupling, as it involves direct knowledge of another component’s internal workings, which is generally discouraged to maintain modularity and ease of maintenance.

These answers are based on fundamental software architecture and design principles widely recognized in the field.

When designing external interfaces, several considerations must be taken into account:A. Volatility of neighbouring systems - Changes in neighboring systems can affect the stability and compatibility of interfaces, requiring interfaces to be adaptable to changes.C. Protocols enforced by neighbouring systems - It's crucial to align with the protocols used by neighboring systems to ensure seamless communication and interoperability.D. Expected amount of parallel calls - This affects the scalability and performance requirements of the interface, as it must be designed to handle the expected load efficiently.

In the context of software architecture, certain elements serve as building blocks to structure and organize software systems effectively.

A: An algorithm is a sequence of steps designed to perform a specific task and can be a critical part of system logic and functionality.

B: A component is a modular part of a system that encapsulates its contents and whose deployment and versioning can be managed independently.

D: A class in object-oriented programming encapsulates data for the object and operations that manipulate that data, serving as a blueprint within the architecture.

H: A package helps organize classes and interfaces that are related functionally, promoting a cleaner and more manageable architecture structure.

In the context of software architecture, the common definitions often focus on the structural aspects of system design. Here’s how the chosen answers align with the iSAQB® guidelines on software architecture:

Building Blocks (B): A fundamental concept in software architecture, building blocks refer to the modular units from which the system is constructed. These can include modules, classes, or components, all of which are vital for defining the structure and behavior of the system.

Relationships (D): Relationships in software architecture define how different components or building blocks interact with each other. These interactions are essential for understanding data flow, dependencies, and communication patterns within the system.

Components (E): Components are larger than building blocks and encompass them, representing significant units of functionality within the system. Each component usually encapsulates a portion of the system's overall functionality and interacts with other components via interfaces.

Interfaces (G): Interfaces define the points of interaction between components or building blocks. They are critical for ensuring that components can function independently yet interact seamlessly when required.

The white-box view of a software building block provides an in-depth perspective on the internal structure and behavior of the building block.

A: The dependencies of the internal building blocks of 'foo' are crucial for understanding how changes in one part affect others and for managing future modifications.

C: The algorithms of the internal building blocks of 'foo' give insight into the logic and operations performed within the block, which is essential for performance analysis and optimization.

D: The internal building blocks of 'foo' describe the finer-grained components or modules within 'foo', detailing their responsibilities and interactions, fundamental for detailed design and implementation.

The software architect is typically responsible for the following quality characteristics:A. The performance of the software - Ensuring that the software meets performance criteria and behaves efficiently under specified conditions is a primary responsibility of the software architect.C. The suitability of the software design for its purpose - Architects must ensure that the design effectively meets the intended functions and requirements, addressing the suitability of the software for its purpose.

These answers are derived from established software architecture practices and principles, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of software architects in ensuring quality and effective documentation.

The statements regarding the design principle ‘information hiding’ that are true and false are as follows:

True:

Adhering to the ‘information hiding’ principle increases flexibility for modifications (A).

Information hiding involves deliberately hiding information from callers or consumers of the building block (B).

In object-oriented development, information hiding is primarily relevant at class level (E).

False:

Information hiding makes it harder to distinguish between interface and implementation C.

Information hiding is a derivative of the approach of incremental refinement along the control flow (D).

The principle of ‘information hiding’ is a fundamental concept in software engineering that promotes encapsulation and abstraction. Here’s an explanation of each statement:

True Statements:

(A): Information hiding allows for changes in the implementation without affecting other parts of the system, thus increasing flexibility1.

(B): The core idea of information hiding is to keep the implementation details away from the users of the component, revealing only what is necessary2.

(E): In object-oriented programming, information hiding is typically applied at the class level, where internal data and methods are hidden from other classes3.

False Statements:

C: Information hiding does not make it harder to distinguish between interface and implementation; rather, it helps to clearly define the interface by hiding the implementation details1.

(D): Information hiding is not a derivative of incremental refinement along the control flow; it is a separate principle that focuses on hiding the internal complexities of a component4.

Information hiding is crucial for maintaining a clean and modular architecture, where components can be developed, maintained, and replaced independently.

References:

Stack Overflow discussion on Abstraction vs Information Hiding vs Encapsulation1.

Wikipedia article on Information Hiding2.

Kansas State University textbook excerpt on Information Hiding3.

Techopedia definition of Information Hiding4.

To evaluate the reliability of a software system effectively, two methods stand out:B. Measurement of ‘Mean-Time-between-Failure’ (MTBF) - This is a standard measure of system reliability and is crucial for determining the average time between failures, helping to predict system reliability over time.E. Conducting an ATAM evaluation - Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) provides a structured approach for evaluating decisions involving high-stake tradeoffs in software architectures, particularly affecting reliability among other quality attributes.

A) FalseB) TrueC) TrueD) False

A) Architectural objectives and project objectives need to be identical.

This is false. Architectural objectives are concerned with the technical goals and quality attributes of the system, while project objectives are broader and include timelines, budgets, and overall project deliverables12.

B) Most of the time, architectural objectives are of a more long-term nature than project objectives.

This is true. Architectural objectives often focus on the sustainability and maintainability of the system, which are long-term considerations, whereas project objectives may be more immediate and focused on the project’s completion12.

C) Architectural objectives and project objectives need to be negotiated between the concerned parties.

True. Both sets of objectives should align with the stakeholders’ needs and the project’s overall goals, and thus require negotiation to ensure that all parties’ interests are addressed3.

D) Architectural objectives are a subset of project objectives.

This is false. Architectural objectives are not necessarily a subset but are related and should support the project objectives. They deal specifically with the architecture of the system, which is one aspect of the project

Quality requirements specify the conditions under which a system must operate to meet the needs of its users and stakeholders, focusing on performance, usability, reliability, etc.

C: Automatic spelling correction is a feature related to the system's usability and accuracy, improving the overall quality of user interaction.

D: Stating a failure rate of less than 0.1% specifies a reliability target that the system must achieve, making it a quantifiable and critical quality requirement.