Software Engineering Interview Questions & Answers

1. Mention some challenges of software development.

The rapid advancement of technology: Technology evolves at a phenomenal pace, thus,

exerting pressure on software developers to learn and adapt to maintain competitiveness.

Increasing demands of customers: Different customers have different needs. Software

developers must understand the business concept to understand the software requirements
of the customers.

Time constraints: Software developers need to work under strict time deadlines. For remote
software developers, the challenge is even bigger as they straddle timezones. Time
constraints can reduce the efficiency of software developers and end in mediocre quality
software products.

Limited resources: Many software development companies still struggle with a lack of IT
resources such as high-performing software development tools, robust computing
platforms, incompetent data storage, and inefficient network capabilities. All these can
reduce the overall efficiency and performance of the software development team.

Disagreements with software testing teams: Software development and software testing
teams are often at loggerheads with each other. Major reasons for the same are the
difference in team mindsets and job roles, the opposite nature of development and testing,
and high work and performance pressure.

Coping with legacy systems: Many organizations still run with older legacy systems and this
can raise the risk of security, inefficiency, and lack of technological compatibility. Thus, the
modernization of legacy software is a pressing need.

Heterogeneity challenge: Since customer demands evolve constantly, an advanced

challenge in software development is to create flexible and dependable software that can
adapt to changing and future needs.

2. Mention the limitations of the RAD model.

This model has a sufficiently high requirement of human resources to build the required
number of teams.

The system does not work if the developers and users don’t stay committed.

If the system is not correctly modularized, it may lead to problems in building components.

If the technical risk is high, this model is not applicable.

3. What are the steps involved in software development?

Brainstorming and planning: This stage determines the purpose and functions for which the
software program must be developed.

Project team analysis: This stage determines the team members, tools, and time frame
required for the project.

Design stage: At this stage, the designated software development team designs the
program.

Development stage: This is the stage where the final functionality of the software is
developed.

Quality assurance and testing: This is the penultimate, but perhaps the most important
stage before finally launching the program. Here, any bugs, defects, or errors are identified
and rectified.

Launch: This is when the program is finally installed and launched for the intended users.

4. Mention the benefits of Smoke-testing.

It minimizes the risk of integration

It improves the end-product quality

It simplifies the diagnosis and correction of errors

It makes assessing progress easy

5. Talk about equivalence partitioning.

Equivalence partitioning is a method for testing software where the input data of a software
unit is divided into partitions containing equivalent data. These partitions help in deriving
the test cases, which, in principle, must cover each partition at least once. Through
partitioning, the test cases can detect classes of errors, and hence reduce the number of
test cases to be developed. Since the number of test cases reduces, the time required for
software testing reduces too. Though this method is usually applied to a tested
component’s inputs, in some rare cases it could also be applied to the outputs.

6. Differentiate between alpha and beta testing.

Alpha test: Alpha tests are tests where the customer assesses a full-version software under
the developer’s supervision. This kind of testing happens at the developer’s site.

Beta test: Beta tests are tests where the customer assesses a version of the software
without the developer’s supervision. This kind of testing happens at the customer’s site.
7. Mention the types of static testing tools.

Code-based: For these testing tools, the source code functions as the input and they use
that to generate the test cases.

Specialized: In these testing tools, the language is used to write detailed test specifications
for every test case.

Requirement-based: These testing tools design the test cases as per the user requirements.

For such a question in the software developer interview, remember to add instances from
personal experience.

8. Mention the different types of software maintenance.

Corrective: Corrective maintenance is used for correcting the faults in the software.

Adaptive: Adaptive maintenance helps the software to adapt to changes in its environment.

Perfective: Perfective maintenance helps in changing or improving the system to meet the
new requirements.

Preventive: Preventive maintenance refers to the alterations made to enhance future

maintainability.

9. What are the software engineering categories?

Scientific software: This software provides an engineering solution for specific engineering
tasks. Examples include CAM and CAD software, AutoCAD, etc.

Embedded software: This refers to software used in control and instrumentation appliances
such as televisions, satellites, and washing machines.

AI software: These types of software are designed for pattern recognition, advanced
systems, and artificial neural software used in machine learning algorithms and natural
language processing.

Networking and web development software: This provides a medium in communication

between computer systems, software, and data storage systems. Examples include web
browsers, email clients, and file transfer protocol (FTP) software.

System software: This category includes software that provides the core functionality for
other digital applications. Examples include operating systems like Windows and Linux,
device drivers, and utility programs.

10. How would you define a framework?

A framework is a platform for developing and deploying software. It outlines how software
components relate to one another and details the development process. It is a structured
and standardized set of tools, libraries, and components that provide a foundation for
building software applications.

Frameworks are designed to facilitate the development, maintenance, and scalability of

applications by offering a pre-built structure for organizing code, handling common tasks,
and interacting with other systems.

11. Differentiate between computer software and a computer program.

A computer program is a subset of computer software. A computer program contains

programming instructions to carry out tasks, while computer software is a collection of
computer programs.

Computer software might contain programs, libraries, APIs, components, and frameworks. It
is a broad term encompassing any software designed to run on a computer system,
including operating systems, application software, utilities, device drivers, and system
softwares.

On the other hand, a computer program is a set of instructions written in a specific

programming language and executed by a computer. It can be a single application or a
group of related applications that perform a specific function or set of functions.

12. What is the full meaning of SDLC?

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a structured approach to software
development that involves various stages and activities, from planning and analysis to
implementation and maintenance. The process enables the creation of high-quality
software within the shortest possible time frame.

13. List different SDLC models.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a planned methodology of building software to

ensure quality and reliability in the software built. Here is a list of some popular SDLC
models:

Waterfall model: In this SDLC model, the entire process is divided into various phases where
the outcome of one phase becomes the input of the next phase.

Incremental model: It is a series of separate SDLC cycles where requirements are grouped
and addressed in each cycle.

V-model: It plans the phases in parallel with verification phases on the left side and
validation phases on the right side of the V-shaped diagram.
Agile Model: Agile development model promotes continuous collaboration between
development and testing teams throughout the development process.

14. What is debugging?

Debugging is the process of identifying and resolving defects, errors, and faults in software
applications. A bug is an error or fault in a software application that causes it to behave
unexpectedly or incorrectly. Debugging begins soon after the software code is written and
continues through the subsequent stages of software development. The goal is to create a
defect-free or error-free software product for market release.

15. What is the Waterfall method?

The Waterfall approach is a linear and consecutive downward development SDLC approach.
In this methodology, the customer and stakeholder requirements are collected at the
beginning of the project.

After that, a sequential project plan covers all those requirements. And, hence the Waterfall
method is so named as each phase of the project downpours into the next like a waterfall.

16. What are some use cases of SDLC?

SDLC is useful in various scenarios, including:

Developing new software applications or systems from scratch

Updating or modifying existing software

Maintaining software and ensuring its longevity

Ensuring software quality and reducing the risk of defects

Managing and controlling project timelines and costs

17. What is software engineering?

Software engineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on developing and maintaining

high-quality software systems. It involves applying engineering principles and methods to
design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software. Software engineering plays a vital role
in the current digital age, where software systems are a ubiquitous part of our daily lives,
from smartphones to cars, healthcare systems to financial services.

Software engineering involves a range of activities, such as requirements gathering,

software design, coding, testing, documentation, and project management. Effective
software engineering involves not only technical skills but also collaboration,
communication, and problem-solving. Software engineers work with other professionals
such as product managers, designers, and quality assurance teams to deliver high-quality
software systems that meet user needs.

18. What are the targeted accomplishments of a software engineering model?

A software engineering model is designed to achieve several objectives, including:

Providing a framework for software development: A model helps in creating a systematic

approach to software development, which can be used to plan, design, develop, test and
maintain software.

Enhancing software quality: A software engineering model helps in identifying and

addressing software quality issues early in the development process, which helps in
reducing the cost of development and maintenance, and ensures that the software meets
the desired standards of quality.

Improving communication: A model provides a common language and understanding

between software developers, managers, and stakeholders, which helps in improving
communication and collaboration throughout the development process.

Facilitating project management: A model helps in managing the development process by

providing a clear roadmap of activities, roles, and responsibilities, which helps in ensuring
that the project is completed on time, within budget, and with the desired quality.

Enabling software reuse: An engineering mode also promotes the reuse of software
components, which helps in reducing the time and cost of development and ensures
consistency and quality across projects.

19. What are internal milestones in software engineering?

Internal milestones are measurable and important attributes of processes. They are
standard systematic procedures that indicate that the engineers are on the right path. These
milestones can be used to assess the development team's progress, identify issues and risks,
and make necessary adjustments to the project plan. They can be related to various aspects
of the project, such as completing a specific feature, testing and debugging the code, or
reaching a certain level of performance or functionality.

20. Mention some characteristics of software.

Software exhibits various characteristics that make it a unique product in the market. Some
of the most notable features include tailor-made design to fit specific user requirements,
usability, functionality, maintainability, and reliability. These characteristics are essential to
ensure that the software performs as intended, are user-friendly, can be easily updated and
repaired, and functions without failure or errors.