Durable, low-cost educational software

Abstract A software life-cycle methodology, designed to optimize for low cost and high durability, is outlined together with details of its use in the Engineering Department at Cambridge University. The methodology involves use of a computer in many stages of the software life-cycle to speed up the production process. A form of rapid evolutionary prototyping involving client and programmer is used which enables the client's perspective to be adopted from an early point, speeding up the process of producing software to specification and ensuring that teachers get what they want from a package.