FURPS

Short description: Model for classifying software quality attributes

FURPS is an acronym representing a model for classifying software quality attributes (functional and non-functional requirements):

• Functionality - Capability (Size & Generality of Feature Set), Reusability (Compatibility, Interoperability, Portability), Security (Safety & Exploitability)
• Usability (UX) - Human Factors, Aesthetics, Consistency, Documentation, Responsiveness
• Reliability - Availability (Failure Frequency (Robustness/Durability/Resilience), Failure Extent & Time-Length (Recoverability/Survivability)), Predictability (Stability), Accuracy (Frequency/Severity of Error)
• Performance - Speed, Efficiency, Resource Consumption (power, ram, cache, etc.), Throughput, Capacity, Scalability
• Supportability (Serviceability, Maintainability, Sustainability, Repair Speed) - Testability, Flexibility (Modifiability, Configurability, Adaptability, Extensibility, Modularity), Installability, Localizability

The model, developed at Hewlett-Packard was first publicly elaborated by Grady and Caswell. FURPS+ is now widely used in the software industry. The + was later added to the model after various campaigns at HP to extend the acronym to emphasize various attributes.

See also

• Types of requirements
• Expanded list of types of requirements

Further reading

• Watson, Mike (2006). Managing Smaller Projects: A Practical Approach. Multi-Media Publications Inc.. pp. 117 ff. ISBN 978-1-895186-85-7. 
• Kenett, Ron; Baker, Emanuel (1999). Software Process Quality: Management and Control. CRC Press. pp. 130 ff. ISBN 978-0-8247-1733-9. 
• Nakajo, Takeshi; Sasabuchi, Katsuhiko; Akiyama, Tadashi (April 1989). "A Structured Approach to Software Defect Analysis". Hewlett-Packard Journal (Palo Alto: Hewlett-Packard Co.) 40 (2): 50–56. http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1989-04.pdf. 
• Fischer, William A., Jr.; Jost, James W. (April 1989). "Comparing structured and unstructured methodologies in firmware development". Hewlett-Packard Journal (Palo Alto: Hewlett-Packard Co.) 40 (2): 80–85. http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1989-04.pdf. 
• Grady, Robert; Caswell, Deborah (1987). Software Metrics: Establishing a Company-wide Program. Prentice Hall. pp. 159. ISBN 0-13-821844-7. https://archive.org/details/softwaremetricse00grad/page/159. 
• Carter, Donald; Stilwell Baker, Barbara (1992). Concurrent Engineering, The Product Development Environment for the 1990s. Addision-Wesley. pp. 175. ISBN 0-201-56349-5. https://archive.org/details/ceconcurrentengi00cart/page/175. 

External links

• IBM on Furps+