RE: [xml-dev] The triples datamodel -- was Re: [xml-dev] SemanticWebpermathread, iteration n+1

["Kirkham, Pete (UK)" <pete.kirkham@baesystems.com>]

> Henrik Martensson
> Funny you should bring XP up, because XP takes a very rigid
> approach to testing, or validation.

Validation of software is not the same as validation against a schema:

Testing allows the behaviour of the system under a certain subset of the inputs to be asserted to be consistent with a datum set of behaviours.

Validation allows the behaviour of the system under a certain subset of the inputs to be asserted to be consistent with the user's conceptual model of the process the software embodies.

Verification asserts the behaviour of the system under *all* cases to be conformant with a formally specified model.


I would suggest that schema validation- the use of a schema as a model against with to verify instances of XML - has more of the characteristics of software verification than of testing or validation.

I've never heard of any use of verification in XP, only testing and validation.

Verification helps give people confidence in high integrity systems, at a cost of orders of magnitude in development and response times. The criticality of most systems doesn't currently justify that cost.


Pete

********************************************************************
This email and any attachments are confidential to the intended
recipient and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient please delete it from your system and notify the sender.
You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose or
distribute its contents to any other person.
********************************************************************