Software Engineering basics - Boehm’s Software Quality Model

What is Boehm’s Software Quality Model?

Boehm’s model is a way to understand and measure how good software is. It was created by Barry Boehm in 1978, and it helps developers and users figure out what makes software useful, easy to use, easy to fix, and able to work on different systems.

 Boehm’s Model has 3 Big Goals (Top Qualities):

  1. As-is Utility – Is the software useful right now?

  2. Maintainability – Is it easy to fix or improve the software?

  3. Portability – Can the software work on different computers or systems?

 Each of these goals is made of smaller parts:

1. As-is Utility (How well it works)

  • Reliability – Does it work correctly without crashing?

  • Efficiency – Does it run fast and use memory well?

  • Human Engineering – Is it easy for people to use?

2. Maintainability (How easy it is to change)

  • Testability – Can we easily test it?

  • Understandability – Is the code and design easy to read?

  • Modifiability – Can we update or fix it without trouble?

3. Portability (Can it work elsewhere?)

  • Device Independence – Can it run on different machines?

  • Self-Descriptiveness – Is everything clearly explained?

  • Modularity – Is the code split into parts that can move easily?

 Why It’s Useful for You

Boehm’s model helps us think about software quality from different angles. It’s not just about whether software “works”—it’s also about how well it works, how easy it is to fix, and how flexible it is.

 Example:

If you're making a mobile app:

  • You want As-is Utility so users enjoy using it.

  • You want Maintainability so you can fix bugs quickly.