How to Write a Software Design Document (SDD)?
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A Software Design Document (SDD) is known by different names; it is often called a software design specification, a software requirement document, or technical specs. This is a detailed description of the overall architecture of a piece of software.
Why create it? Just imagine: your team has spent several months building a software product, and finally, it turned out that it doesn’t solve the specified problems and looks different from what it was supposed to. An unpleasant situation, isn’t it? Changing all that is like building a new product from scratch – it requires time, human resources, and money. You might have avoided that if you had an SDD. This document is supposed to be written before coding, and it answers the following questions:
It is like a model of software, and it coordinates the whole team and helps its members move in the same direction.
An SDD is the best way to make sure the right work is done by all members of a team.
An SDD is even more important when a software product is created for external customers. It allows a customer and a team to agree upon all the most important issues. Customers clearly see whether their requirements will be met. At the same time, a team can estimate the efforts that should take place in the process of software development.
Actually, writing an SDD is one of the most difficult parts of working on a project. Hardly anyone enjoys doing that. For example, software developers prefer to dive deep into coding rather than working out a strategy according to which the team is going to work the next several months. But the benefits of having an SDD surely outweigh the unwillingness to write it. All roles in a team rely on this document to prepare their work plans. For instance, a project manager can obtain agreements from all the participants of the project: from sponsors to the development team; QA testers make sure the product works the way it should; technical writers create relevant user documentation; developers work out specified features, etc.
And, you surely need a detailed SDD if:
Here is what a software design document usually contains:
An SDD should be a collaborative document as software development is a collaborative process as well. First of all, you should choose a documentation tool that will facilitate your writing workflow. Modern cloud tools, like ClickHelp, offer diverse and powerful functionality: it is not a problem if authors write different parts of a document simultaneously, if several reviewers leave comments, or if all team members work from different locations. I would say your SDD will become some kind of a transparent, centralized knowledge base for all team members if you use a suitable writing tool.
When working on a description of a user interface, don’t forget about wireframe tools. They are used to design apps, websites, software, etc. It is essential first to make a mockup of the interface and then to apply it to your product to create a better user experience. Here is the list of the most popular online wireframing tools:
When choosing a wireframe tool, you are to pay attention to your specific use case and needs. There is no ideal tool for everything. Each tool works best for particular purposes.
Creating an informative SDD is halfway to creating a high-quality and helpful piece of software. It is a good opportunity to quickly figure out your team’s way without losing months wandering in darkness. I hope this post will give you new ideas and thoughts on how to write an SDD and customize this process to your product’s special features.
Good luck with your technical writing!
ClickHelp Team
Author, host and deliver documentation across platforms and devices
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