Different Types of Software Requirements: A Diabetes Management App Example

Understanding Different Types of Software Requirements: A Diabetes Management App Example

When building software like a mobile app for diabetes management, it's essential to understand the different types of requirements that shape the development process. Beyond the basic categories of functional and non-functional requirements, there are several layers of detail that ensure the app meets the needs of both users and stakeholders. Let’s explore the key requirement types with relevant examples.

1. Business Requirements

✅ Definition:

These describe the overall goals and objectives of the organization or project. They answer the "why" behind the system—what business outcomes are desired.

✅ Focus:
They are high-level, often independent of specific technical details. They reflect business goals, market expansion plans, cost-saving targets, or strategic initiatives.

Examples:

  • Help patients manage their blood sugar levels more effectively.

  • Reduce hospital readmissions for diabetic complications by 20%.

  • Increase user engagement by providing daily health tips and reminders.

2. User Requirements (Stakeholder Requirements)

User requirements describe what the patients, doctors, and caregivers need from the app to manage diabetes effectively.

Examples:

  • A patient shall be able to log their blood sugar readings manually or via Bluetooth-enabled devices.

  • A caregiver shall receive alerts if a patient’s glucose level drops below a critical threshold.

  • A doctor shall be able to view a patient’s historical blood sugar trends over the past 3 months.

These requirements are often written in natural language and gathered through user stories, interviews, and scenarios.

3. System Requirements

System requirements translate user needs into detailed technical specifications, guiding how the app will function and interact with other systems.

Examples:

  • The app shall sync data with Bluetooth-enabled glucometers.

  • The app shall store patient health data in an encrypted database that complies with HIPAA standards.

  • The app shall integrate with a hospital’s electronic health record (EHR) system to share patient reports.

4. Functional Requirements

Functional requirements describe specific features the app must provide to support diabetes management.

Examples:

  • The app shall allow users to log blood sugar levels, insulin doses, and meals.

  • The app shall send medication reminders to users based on their personalized schedules.

  • The app shall generate weekly progress reports showing trends in blood sugar levels.

5. Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs)

Non-functional requirements define how well the app performs its functions, addressing qualities like:

  • Performance, 
  • Security, 
  • Usability,
  • Reliability

Examples:

  • The app must load within 2 seconds on both Android and iOS devices.

  • The app must encrypt all stored and transmitted patient data to ensure privacy.

  • The app must support accessibility features like voice input for visually impaired users.

6. Domain Requirements

Domain requirements stem from the healthcare context and the specific needs of managing diabetes.

✅ Definition:
These arise from the specific business domain or industry the system operates in. They include rules, standards, or compliance needs that must be followed because the system is operating within a regulated or specialized field (e.g., healthcare, finance, aviation).

✅ Focus:
They are often non-negotiable—like laws, regulations, or industry best practices. They describe what must be included for the system to function legally and effectively within the domain.

Examples:

  • The app must comply with HIPAA regulations for patient data security.

  • The app must calculate and display average HbA1c levels based on logged blood sugar readings.

  • The app must support different units of blood glucose measurement (mg/dL and mmol/L).

7. Interface Requirements

Interface requirements define how the app interacts with external systems, devices, or users.

Examples:

  • The app shall communicate with glucometers using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

  • The app shall allow users to export their data in PDF format for sharing with healthcare providers.

  • The user interface shall provide intuitive navigation for logging meals, medications, and blood sugar readings.

8. Design Constraints

Design constraints limit how the app is built, based on technology choices, regulations, or project scope.

Examples:

  • The app must be developed using Flutter to support both Android and iOS platforms.

  • The app must use Firebase for backend services due to budget limitations.

  • The app must be compatible with Android 9.0+ and iOS 13+.

9. Transition Requirements

Transition requirements address what’s needed to move from an old system (or no system) to the new diabetes management app.

Examples:

  • Existing patient data from spreadsheets must be imported into the app at launch.

  • Training materials, including tutorial videos, must be ready before the app is released.

  • The app must provide an easy-to-understand onboarding flow for new users.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beyond Google: The Best Alternative Search Engines for Academic and Scientific Research

Google may be the most popular search engine, but it isn’t always the best for academic and scientific research. Many valuable scholarly resources are buried under commercial results or hidden behind paywalls. Fortunately, there are specialized search engines designed to help researchers, students, and professionals find high-quality, peer-reviewed content. Here’s a selection of the best alternatives to Google, focusing on science, technology, medicine, and economics. 1. RefSeek ( www.refseek.com ) Best for: General academic research. RefSeek indexes over a billion documents, including research papers, encyclopedias, and books. Unlike Google, it prioritizes educational content and filters out commercial websites. 2. WorldCat ( www.worldcat.org ) Best for: Finding books and research materials in libraries worldwide. WorldCat allows users to search for books, articles, and historical archives in over 20,000 libraries. It’s ideal for tracking down rare or specialized academic ma...
Read more

LLM-based systems- Comparison of FFN Fusion with Other Approaches

  Comparison of FFN Fusion with Other Approaches & Suitable Use Cases FFN Fusion (NVIDIA) FFN Fusion optimizes transformers by identifying feed-forward layers that can be executed in parallel. By analyzing dependencies and fusing low-interaction FFN layers, it achieves significant reductions in inference latency and computational cost. Unlike traditional techniques that modify numerical precision or prune parameters, this approach restructures the model while preserving accuracy. Best Use Cases High-throughput AI applications : Ideal for AI assistants, chatbots, and large-scale LLM-based systems that need rapid multi-token generation. Enterprise-level LLM deployments : Works well where cost efficiency is important without compromising model performance. Real-time scientific research tools : Can enhance inference speed in AI-driven analytics, simulations, and predictive modeling. Quantization Quantization reduces the precision of numerical calculations (e.g., from 32-...
Read more

Product management. Metrics and examples

  Business Metrics focused on startups: A Comprehensive Guide to Measuring Growth and Success for a Product manager  For startups, tracking the right metrics is critical for measuring financial performance, customer acquisition, retention, and market potential. These key indicators help founders, investors, and executives make informed decisions, optimize business strategies, and drive sustainable growth. While some metrics are universal, their application varies across industries. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of essential startup metrics, with diverse examples from SaaS, healthcare, pharma, automotive, fintech, e-learning, and more. Revenue Metrics: Understanding Financial Performance 1. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) The total revenue generated from paid customer subscriptions each month. Example 1 (SaaS): A cloud-based project management platform earns $50,000 monthly from subscriptions. Example 2 (Healthcare): A telemedicine platform generates $30,00...
Read more