Quantitative Quality Score for Software

Abstract

In this paper, need for a third-party software quality evaluation and certification is put forth. Software that are meant for use by public are required to have a formal quality certification based on evaluation by an unbiased third-party who are other than the software development or acquiring agencies. Formal software evaluation and certification are proposed to be carried out by an independent organisation exclusively established for this purpose, using crowd-sourcing. Qualified senior-citizens and user-group representatives contribute to the testing, evaluation and certification based on available software documents and templates for evaluation and certification. A quantitative quality-score is computed and assigned to each software under evaluation, prior to its release for operational use. Each major revision requires such certification. Detailed modalities of assigning a quantitative quality score are presented with particular emphasis on consideration of weights. Computing the quality score is based on software quality requirements specification, when it exists, otherwise based on subjective evaluation by individuals testing the software using a standard method.