Iterative enhancement: A practical technique for software development

Abstract

This paper recommends the iterative enhancement' technique as a practical means of using a top-down, stepwise refinement approach to software development. This technique begins with a simple initial implementation of a property chosen (skeletal) subproject which is followed by the gradual enhancement of successive implementations in order to build the full implementation. The development and quantitative analysis of a production compiler for the language SIMPL-T is used to demonstrate that the application of iterative enhancement to software development is practical and efficient, encourages the generation of an easily modifiable product, and facilities reliability.