STANDARD METHODS USED IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Software development is a complex process which consists of many steps, starting from the initial user requirements, through analysis and development to the implementation and distribution. Software development involves the use of a number of different technologies and techniques. There are laws, rules and order in the use of technology and techniques, so if software development approach is ad-hoc it is not possible to develop good, useful and reliable software. It is necessary to use methodology in software development in order to ensure the reliability and quality of software. Methodologies determine the time and place of the use of methods. This article will show some of those methods used for software development. The use of CASE technologies is necessary to ensure speed, accuracy, efficiency of software development and the ease of maintenance. This article will analyze features of some CASE technologies. CASE technologies also provide standardization in software development and the application of standards. The article will give a review of some of the standards and norms that apply to software development. This article will analyze the data using the Croatian Chamber of Economy Internet site as a source for the number of companies and the number of employees in the Republic of Croatia engaged in computer programming. The same source will be used to get e-mail addresses for a questionnaire on the use of methods and standards in software development. The goal of the research is to show the quantity and the quality (descriptions, coverage of stages in software development) of the most frequently used techniques, methods and standards.