Re: Software User Guide as Specifications Doc - Anyone tried it?

["Simon North" <Simon -dot- North -at- synopsys -dot- com>]

Yes, I have successfully worked on a project where the user 
guide was used as the interface spec. This was, however, for 
a defence equipment manufacturer where the whole culture 
was built around specs anyway. Outside of defence systems 
I've only rarely encountered an organization that worked 
closely enough to specs for the approach to be much use.   

You'd also need to be aware that a user guide that like could 
only really be considered as a functional spec, and thee are 
often quite a few other specs needed as well. If it isn't kept a 
s afunctional spec then you run into the well-known problem 
of having a manual that describes far too many 
implementation details and isn't focused enough on either 
tasks, or the readership. 

Simon North.


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