Comments on: Use Cases http://nebtech.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/use-cases/ Delving into software development and marketing lifecycles Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:49:18 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: jethris http://nebtech.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/use-cases/#comment-179 jethris Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:35:28 +0000 http://nebtech.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/use-cases/#comment-179 You need to flush out your use cases. A use case is not a paragraph detailing everything an actor can do. It is specify individual actions allowed by the system, or any number of actors. They need to be generic enough to allow for flexibility, but specific enough that anyone could code. For example, the use case for opening a door would look like: Action: Open a door Actors: Members of the household Precondition: Member has a key Post Condition: Door is open Steps: 1: Actor turns knob 2: System opens the door Alternative Steps: 1: Actor turns door. 2: Door locked, error returned to Actor 3: Actor inserts key 4: Actor turns key 5: If key is correct, door unlocks 6: Actor opens door You need to flush out your use cases. A use case is not a paragraph detailing everything an actor can do. It is specify individual actions allowed by the system, or any number of actors. They need to be generic enough to allow for flexibility, but specific enough that anyone could code.

For example, the use case for opening a door would look like:

Action: Open a door
Actors: Members of the household
Precondition: Member has a key
Post Condition: Door is open

Steps:
1: Actor turns knob
2: System opens the door

Alternative Steps:

1: Actor turns door.
2: Door locked, error returned to Actor
3: Actor inserts key
4: Actor turns key
5: If key is correct, door unlocks
6: Actor opens door

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