UNIT-I
SOFTWARE PRODUCT
AND PROCESS CHARACTERISTICS:
Software:
-
Software is nothing but collection of computer programs and related documents that are planned to provide desired features, functionalities and better performance.
Software is more than just a program code. A program is an executable code,
which serves some computational purpose. Software is considered to be
collection of executable programming code, associated libraries and
documentations. Software, when made for a specific requirement is called software product.
Engineering on the other hand, is all about developing products, using well-defined, scientific principles and methods.
Software Engineering: The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation and maintenance of software; that is, the application of engineering to software.
Software product classified in 2 classes:
1.
Generic software: developed to
solution whose requirements are very
common fairly stable and well understood by software engineer.
2. Custom software: developed for a single customer according to their specification.
The need of software engineering arises because of higher rate of change in user requirements and environment on which the software is working.
Large software - It is easier to build a wall than to a house or building, likewise, as the size of software become large engineering has to step to give it a scientific process.
Scalability- If the software process were not based on scientific and engineering concepts, it would be easier to re-create new software than to scale an existing one.
Cost- As hardware industry has shown its skills and huge manufacturing has lower down the price of computer and electronic hardware. But the cost of software remains high if proper process is not adapted.
Dynamic Nature- The always growing and adapting nature of software hugely depends upon the environment in which user works. If the nature of software is always changing, new enhancements need to be done in the existing one. This is where software engineering plays a good role.
Quality Management- Better process of software development provides better and quality software product.
·
Readability (understood by those who maintain it)
·
Correctness
·
Reliability (high
performance)
·
Re usability
·
Extensibility (ability to perform its operations)
·
Flexibility
·
Efficiency
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·
Many software projects failed.
·
Many software projects
late, over budget,
providing unreliable software
that is expensive to maintain.
·
Many software projects
produced software which did not satisfy the requirements of the customer.
·
Complexities of software projects increased as hardware Capability increased.
·
Larger software system is more difficult and expensive to
maintain.
·
Demand of new software increased faster than ability to generate new software.
A software product can be judged by what it offers and how well it can be used. This software must satisfy on the following grounds:
·
Operational
·
Transitional
·
Maintenance
·
Well-engineered and crafted software is expected to
have the following characteristics:
This tells us how well software works in operations. It can be measured on:
·
Budget
·
Usability
·
Efficiency
·
Correctness
·
Functionality
·
Dependability
·
Security
·
Safety
This aspect is important when the software is moved from one platform to another:
·
Portability
·
Interoperability
·
Reusability
·
Adaptability
This aspect briefs about how well software has the capabilities to maintain itself in the ever-changing environment:
·
Modularity
·
Maintainability
·
Flexibility
·
Scalability
In short, Software engineering is a branch of computer science, which uses well-defined engineering concepts required to produce efficient, durable, scalable, in-budget and on-time software products.
Software process can be defining as the structured set of activates that are required to develop the software system.
To solve actual problems in an industry setting, a software engineer or a team of engineers must incorporate a
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development strategy that encompasses the process, methods, and tools layers. This strategy is often referred to as a process model or a software engineering paradigm.
A process model for software engineering is chosen based on the nature of the project and application, the methods and tools to be used, and the controls and deliverables that are required.
The goal of a software process model is to provide guidance for systematically coordinating and controlling the tasks that must be performed in order to achieve the end product and their project objectives. A process model defines the following:
·
A set of tasks that need to be performed.
·
The inputs to and output from each task.
·
The preconditions and post-conditions for each task.
·
The sequence and flow of these tasks.
We might ask whether a software development process is necessary if there is only one person developing the software. The answer is that it depends. If the software development process is viewed as only a coordinating and controlling agent, then there is no need since there is only one person. However, if the process is viewed as prescriptive road map for generating various intermediate deliverables in addition to the executable code- for
Software is often the single largest cost item in a computer-based application. Though software is a product, it is different from other physical products.
i.
Software costs are
concentrated in engineering (analysis and design) and not in production.
ii.
Cost of software is not dependent on volume of production.
iii.
Software does not wear out (in the physical sense).
iv.
Software has no replacement (spare) parts.
v.
Software maintenance is a difficult problem and is
very different from hardware
(physical product) maintenance.
vi.
Most software is
custom-built.
vii.
Many legal issues are
involved (e.g. inter-actual property rights, liability).
A software product, user interface must be carefully designed and implemented because developers of that product and users of that product are totally different. In case of a program, very little documentation is expected, but a software product must be well documented. A program can be developed according to the programmers individual style of development, but a software product must be developed using the accepted software engineering principles.
Various Operational Characteristics of software are:
· Correctness: The software which we are making should meet all the
specifications stated by the customer.
· Usability/Learn-ability: The amount of
efforts or time required to learn how to use the software should be less. This makes the software user-friendly even for IT-illiterate people.
· Integrity: Just like medicines have side-effects, in the same way software may have aside-effect i.e. it
may affect the working of another application. But quality software should not
have side effects.
·
Reliability: The software
product should not have any defects. Not only this, it shouldn't fail while
execution.
·
Efficiency: This
characteristic relates to the way software uses the available resources. The software should make
effective use of the storage space and execute
command as per desired timing requirements.
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Downloaded from be.rgpvnotes.in
·
Security: With the increase
in security threats nowadays, this
factor is gaining importance. The software shouldn't have ill effects on data /
hardware. Proper measures should be taken to keep
data secure from external threats.
· Safety: The software should not be
hazardous to the environment/life.
|
Software
Process |
Software Product |
|
Processes
are developed by individual user and it is used for personal use. |
It is developed by multiple users and it is used by
large number of people or Customers. |
|
Process
may be small in size and possessing limited functionality. |
It consists of multiple program codes; relate documents
such as SRS, designing documents, user manuals, test cases. |
|
Process
is generally developed by process engineers. |
Process
is generally developed by process engineers. Therefore systematic approach of developing software product
must be applied. |
|
Software
product relies on software process for its stability quality and control Only
one person uses the process, hence lack of user interface |
It is
important than software product. Multiuser no lack of user interface. |
Software
Development Life Cycle/Process model/ Software Development Life Cycle: -
Software Development Life Cycle, SDLC for short, is a well-defined,
structured sequence of stages in software engineering to develop the intended
software product. it is a team of engineers must incorporate a development
strategy that encompasses the process, method and tools layers. Each phase has
various activities to develop the software product. It also specifies the order
in which each phase must be executed.
A software life cycle model is either a descriptive or prescriptive characterization of how software is or should be developed. A descriptive model describes the history of how a particular software system was developed.
Definition: Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a process used by software industry to design, develop and test high quality software. The SDLC aims to produce high-quality software that meets or exceeds customer expectations, reaches completion within times and cost estimates.
SDLC is the acronym of Software Development Life Cycle. It is also called as Software development process. The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a framework defining tasks performed at each step in the software development process.
A few of software development paradigms or process models are defined as follows:
Sometimes called the classic life cycle or the waterfall model, the linear sequential model suggests a systematic, sequential approach to software development that begins at the system level and progresses through analysis, design, coding, testing, and maintenance.
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Software requirements analysis: The requirements gathering process is focused specifically on software. To understand the nature of the program(s) to be built, the software engineer ("analyst") must understand the information domain for the software, as well as required function, behavior, performance, and interface. Requirements for both the system and the software are documented and reviewed with the customer.
Design: Software design is actually a multi-step process that focuses on four distinct attributes of a program: data structure, software architecture, interface representations, and procedural (algorithmic) detail. The design process translates requirements into a representation of the software that can be assessed for quality before coding begins. Like requirements, the design is documented and becomes part of the software configuration.
Coding : The design must be translated into a machine-readable form. The code generation step performs this task. If design is performed in a detailed manner, code generation can be accomplished mechanistically.
Testing: Once code has been generated, program testing begins. The testing process focuses on the logical internals of the software, ensuring that all statements have been tested, and on the functional externals; that is, conducting tests to uncover errors and ensure that defined input will produce actual results that agree with required results.
Maintenance: Software will undoubtedly undergo change after it is delivered to the customer (a possible exception is embedded software). Change will occur because errors have been encountered, because the software must be adapted to accommodate changes in its external environment (e.g., a change required because of a new operating system or peripheral device), or because the customer requires functional or performance enhancements. Software support/maintenance reapplies each of the preceding phases to an existing program rather than a new one.
·
This model is simple and easy to understand and use.
·
Waterfall model works well
for smaller projects where requirements
are very well understood.
·
Each phase proceeds
sequentially.
·
Documentation is produced at every stage of the
software's development. This makes understanding
the product designing procedure, simpler.
·
After every major stage of
software coding, testing is done to check the correct running of the code. help
us to control schedules and budgets.
·
Not a good model for
complex and object-oriented projects.
·
Poor model for long
and ongoing projects.
·
Not suitable for the projects where requirements are at a moderate to high risk of changing.
·
High amounts of risk and uncertainty.
·
Customer can see working model of the project only
at the end. after reviewing of the working model if
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the customer gets dissatisfied then it causes serious problem.
·
You cannot go back a step if the
design phase has gone wrong, things can get very complicated in the
implementation phase.
A prototype is a toy implementation of the system. A prototype usually exhibits limited functional capabilities, low reliability, and inefficient performance compared to the actual software. A prototype is usually built using several shortcuts. The shortcuts might involve using inefficient, inaccurate, or dummy functions. The shortcut implementation of a function, for example, may produce the desired results by using a table look-up instead of performing the actual computations. A prototype usually turns out to be a very crude version of the actual system.

Need
for a prototype in software development: -
There are several uses of a prototype. An important purpose is to illustrate the input data formats, messages, reports, and the interactive dialogues to the customer. This is a valuable mechanism for gaining better understanding of the customers needs:
·
how the screens might look like
· how the user
interface would behave
· how the system
would produce outputs
A prototyping model can be used when technical solutions are unclear to the development team.
A developed prototype can help engineers to critically examine the technical issues associated with the product development. Often, major design decisions depend on issues like the response time of a hardware controller, or the efficiency of a sorting algorithm, etc. In such circumstances, a prototype may be the best or the only way to resolve the technical issues.
A prototype of the actual product is preferred in situations such as:
·
user requirements are
not complete
·
technical issues are
not clear
Rapid application development (RAD) is a software development methodology that uses minimal planning in favor of rapid prototyping. A prototype is a working model that is functionally equivalent to a component of the product. In RAD model, the functional modules are developed in parallel as prototypes and are integrated to make the complete product for faster product delivery.
Since there is no detailed pre-planning, it makes it easier to incorporate the changes within the development
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process. RAD projects follow iterative and incremental model and have small teams comprising of developers, domain experts, customer representatives and other IT resources working progressively on their component or prototype. The most important aspect for this model to be successful is to make sure that the prototypes developed are reusable.
Rapid application development (RAD) is an incremental software development process model that emphasizes an extremely short development cycle. The AD model is a high-speed adaptation of the linear sequential model in which rapid development is achieved by using component-based construction. If requirements are well understood and project scope is constrained, the RAD process enables a development team to create a fully functional system within very short time periods (e.g., 60 to 90 days). Used primarily for information systems applications, the RAD approach encompasses the following phases:
Business modeling: The information flow among business functions is modeled in a way that answers the following questions: What information drives the business process? What information is generated? Who generates it? Where does the information go? Who processes it?
Data modeling: The information flow defined as part of the business modeling phase is refined into a set of data objects that are needed to support the business. The characteristics (called attributes) of each object are identified and the relationships between these objects defined.
Process modeling: The data objects defined in the data modeling phase are transformed to achieve the information flow necessary to implement a business function. Processing descriptions are created for adding, modifying, deleting, or retrieving a data object.
Application generation: RAD assumes the use of fourth generation techniques. Rather than
creating software using conventional third generation programming languages the
RAD process works to reuse existing program components (when possible) or
create reusable components (when necessary). In all cases, automated tools are
used to facilitate construction of the software.
Testing and turnover: Since the RAD process emphasizes reuse, many of the program components have already been tested. This reduces overall testing time. However, new components must be tested and all interfaces must be fully exercised.

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·
Reduced development time.
·
Increases re usability
of components
·
Quick initial reviews occur
·
Encourages customer
feedback
·
Integration from
very beginning solves a lot of integration issues.
·
Depends on strong team and individual performances for identifying business requirements.
·
Only system that can be
modularized can be built using RAD
·
Requires highly skilled developers/designers.
·
High dependency on modeling skills
·
Inapplicable to cheaper
projects as cost of modeling
and automated code generation is very high.
·
RAD should be used when there is a need to create a system that can be modularized in 2-3 months
of time.
·
It should be used if theres high availability of designers for modeling and the budget
is high enough
to afford their cost along with the cost of automated code generating tools.
·
RAD SDLC model should be chosen only if resources with high business knowledge are
available and there is a need to produce the system in a short span of time
(2-3 months).
Evolutionary Software Process Model Evolutionary software models are iterative. They are characterized in manner that enables the software engineers to develop increasingly more complete version of software. In programming "iteration" means sequential access to objects. It is typically a cycle. Software engineers can follow this process model that has been clearly designed to put up a product that regularly complete over time.
Iterative process starts with a simple implementation of a subset of the software requirements and iteratively enhances the evolving versions until the full system is implemented. At each iteration, design modifications are made and new functional capabilities are added. The basic idea behind this method is to develop a system through repeated cycles (iterative) and in smaller portions at a time (incremental).
Following is the pictorial representation of Iterative and Incremental model:

Iterative
Model Application:
Like other SDLC models, Iterative and incremental development has some specific applications in the software industry. This model is most often used in the following scenarios:
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·
Requirements of the complete system are clearly defined and understood.
·
Major requirements must be defined; however, some functionalities or requested enhancements may evolve with time.
·
There is a time to the market constraint.
·
A new technology is being used and is being learnt
by the development team while working on the project.
·
Resources with needed skill
set are not available and are planned to be used on contract basis for specific iterations.
·
There are some high-risk features and goals which may change in the
future.
·
incremental model
and
·
spiral model
·
The incremental model combines the elements of waterfall
model and they
are applied in an iterative fashion.
·
The first increment in this model is generally a
core product.
·
Each increment builds the product and submits it to
the customer for any suggested modifications.
·
The next increment
implements on the customer's suggestions and add additional requirements in the previous increment.
·
This process is repeated
until the product is finished.
For example, the word-processing software is developed using the
incremental model.

Advantages of Incremental
model: -
·
Generates working software quickly and early during
the software life cycle.
·
This model is more flexible less costly to change
scope and requirements.
·
It is easier to test
and debug during a smaller iteration.
·
In this model customer can respond to each built.
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·
Lowers initial delivery cost.
·
Easier to manage risk because risky pieces are
identified and handled during itd iteration.
·
There is low risk for overall
project failure.
·
Customer does not
have to wait until the entire system is delivered.
·
Needs good planning and design at the management a
technical level.
·
Needs a clear and complete definition of the whole
system before it can be broken down
and built incrementally.
·
Total cost is higher than waterfall.
·
Time foundation create problem to
complete the project.
·
This model can be used when the requirements of the
complete system are clearly defined
and understood.
·
Major requirements must be defined; however, some details can evolve with time.
·
There is a need to get a product
to the market early.
·
A new technology is being used
·
Resources with needed skill
set are not available
·
There are some high-risk features and goals.
SPIRAL MODEL :
The spiral model, is an evolutionary software process model that couples the iterative nature of prototyping with the controlled and systematic aspects of the linear sequential model. It provides the potential for rapid development of incremental versions of the software. Using the spiral model, software is developed in a series of incremental releases. During early iterations, the incremental release might be a paper model or prototype. During later iterations, increasingly more complete versions of the engineered system are produced.
A spiral model is divided into a number of framework activities, also called task regions. Project entry point axis is defined this axis represents starting point for different types of project. Every framework activities represent one section of the spiral path. As the development process starts, the software team performs activities that are indirect by a path around the spiral model in a clockwise direction. It begins at the center of spiral model.
Typically, there are between three and six task regions. In blow Figure depicts a spiral model that contains six task regions:
·
Customer communicationtasks required
to establish effective communication between developer and customer.
· Planningtasks required to define resources, time lines,
and other project related information.
·
Risk analysistasks required to assess both technical and
management risks.
·
Engineeringtasks required to build one or more
representations of the application.
· Construction and releasetasks required to construct, test, install, and provide user
support(e.g., documentation and training).
· Customer evaluationtasks required to obtain customer feedback based
on evaluation of the software representations created
during the engineering stage and implemented during the installation stage.
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Advantages
of Spiral model: -
·
High amount of risk analysis hence, avoidance of
Risk is enhanced.
·
Good for large and mission-critical projects.
·
Strong approval and documentation control.
·
Additional Functionality can be added at a later date.
·
Software is produced early in the software life cycle.
·
Can be a costly model to use.
·
Risk analysis requires
highly specific expertise.
·
Projects success is highly dependent on the risk
analysis phase.
·
Doesnt work well for smaller projects.
·
When costs and risk evaluation is important.
·
For medium to high-risk projects.
·
Long-term project commitment unwise because of
potential changes to economic priorities.
·
Users are unsure of their needs.
·
Requirements are complex.
·
New product line.
·
Significant changes are expected (research and exploration).
Component Assembly Model is just like the Prototype model, in which first a prototype is created according
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to the requirements of the customer and sent to the user for evaluation to get the feedback for the modifications to be made and the same procedure is repeated until the software will cater the need of businesses and consumers is realized. Thus it is also an iterative development model.
This model work in following manner:
1.
Identify all required candidate component i.e.
classes with the help of application data and
algorithm.
2. If these
candidate components are used in
previous software project then thy must
be present in library.
3.
Such preexisting component can be extracted from the
library and used for further
development.
4. But if required
component is not presented in the library then build or create the component as
per requirement.
5.
Place the newly created component in library. This makes one iteration of
the system.
6.
Repeat step 1 to 5 for creating n iteration. Where n denotes the no of iterations required to develop
complete application.

Component Assembly Model Characteristics:
·
Use of object-oriented technology.
·
Components classes that encapsulate both data and algorithms.
·
Components developed to be reusable.
·
Paradigm similar to spiral
model, but engineering activity involves components.
·
System produced by assembling the correct components.
Rational Unified Process (RUP) is an object-oriented and Web-enabled program development methodology. RUP is a software application development technique with many tools to assist in coding the final product and tasks related to this goal. RUP is an object-oriented approach used to ensure effective project management and high-quality software production. It divides the development process into four distinct phases that each involves business modeling, analysis and design, implementation, testing, and deployment. The four phases are:
1.
Inception - The idea for the project
is stated. The development team determines if the project is worth
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pursuing and what resources will be needed.
2.
Elaboration - The project's
architecture and required resources are further
evaluated. Developers consider possible applications of the software and costs
associated with the development.
3.
Construction - The project is
developed and completed. The software is designed, written, and tested.
4.
Transition - The software is released to the public. Final
adjustments or updates are made
based on feedback from end users.
The RUP development methodology provides a structured way for companies to envision create software programs. Since it provides a specific plan for each step of the development process, it helps prevent resources from being wasted and reduces unexpected development costs.
·
This is a complete methodology in itself with an
emphasis on accurate documentation
·
It is pro-actively able to resolve the project risks associated with the client's evolving
requirements requiring careful change request
management
·
Less time is required
for integration as the process of integration goes on throughout the
software development life cycle.
·
The development time required is less due to reuse
of components.
·
There is online training and
tutorial available for this process.
·
The team members
need to be expert in their
field to develop
a software under this methodology.
·
The development process is too complex and disorganized.
·
On cutting edge projects which
utilize new technology, the reuse of
components will not be possible. Hence the time saving one could have made will
be impossible to fulfill.
·
Integration
throughout the process of software development, in theory sounds a good thing.
But on particularly big projects with multiple development streams it will only
add to the confusion and cause more issues
during the stages of testing.
The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) has developed a comprehensive model predicated on a set of software engineering capabilities that should be present as organizations reach different levels of process maturity. To determine an organizations current state of process maturity, the
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SEI uses an assessment that results in a five-point grading scheme. The grading scheme determines compliance with a capability maturity model (CMM) that defines key activities required at different levels of process maturity. The SEI approach provides a measure of the global effectiveness of a company's software engineering practices and establishes five process maturity levels that are defined in the following manner:
Level 1: Initial. The software process is characterized as ad hoc and occasionally even chaotic. Few processes are defined, and success depends on individual effort.
Level 2: Repeatable. Basic project management processes are established to track cost, schedule, and functionality. The necessary process discipline is in place to repeat earlier successes on projects with similar applications.
Level 3: Defined. The software process for both management and engineering activities is documented, standardized, and integrated into an organization wide software process. All projects use a documented and approved version of the organization's process for developing and supporting software. This level includes all characteristics defined for level 2.
Level 4: Managed. Detailed measures of the software process and product quality are collected. Both the software process and products are quantitatively understood and controlled using detailed measures. This level includes all characteristics defined for level 3.
Level 5: Optimizing. Continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback from the process and from testing innovative ideas and technologies. This level includes all characteristics defined for level 4.
The five levels defined by the SEI were derived as a consequence of
evaluating responses to the SEI
assessment questionnaire that is based on the CMM. The results of the
questionnaire are distilled to a single numerical grade that provides an indication of an organization's process maturity.

Process maturity level 2: -
· Software
configuration management
· Software quality assurance
· Software
subcontract management
·
Software project tracking and oversight
· Software project planning
· Requirements management
·
Peer reviews
·
Intergroup coordination
·
Software product
engineering
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·
Integrated software
management
·
Training program
·
Organization process definition
·
Organization process focus
·
Software quality management
·
Quantitative process management
·
Process change management
·
Technology change management
·
Defect prevention
In software industry, most of the projects are customized software product 3 major factors that are involved in software process customization and those are:
· PEOPLE
· PRODUCT
· PROCESS
The primary element of any project is the people. People gather requirements, people interview users (people), people design software, and people write software for people. No people -- no software. I'll leave the discussion of people to the other articles in this special issue, except for one comment. The best thing that can happen to any software project is to have people who know what they are doing and have the courage and self-discipline to do it. Knowledgeable people do what is right and avoid what is wrong. Courageous people tell the truth when others want to hear something else. Disciplined people work through projects and don't cut corners. Find people who know the product and can work in the process.
Process is how we go from the beginning to the end of a project. All projects use a process. Many project managers, however, do not choose a process based on the people and product at hand. They simply use the same process they've always used or misused. Let's focus on two points regarding process: (1) process improvement and (2) using the right process for the people and product at hand.
The product is the result of a project. The desired product satisfies the customers and keeps them coming back for more. Sometimes, however, the actual product is something less. The product pays the bills and ultimately allows people to work together in a process and build software. Always keep the product in focus.
Software process metrics measure the software development process and environment. Example productivity, effort estimates, efficiency and failure rate.
Software Product metrics measure the software product. Example: - size, reliability, complexity and functionality.
The only rational way to improve any process is
·
To measure specific attributes
of the process
·
Develop a set of meaningful metrics based on these attributes
·
Use the metrics to provide indicators that will lead to a
strategy for improvement
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Processes its at the center of a triangle connecting three factors that have profound influence on software quality and organizational performance
·
The skill and motivation of people has most influential factor in quality and performance.
·
The complexity of the product has impact on quality and team performance.
·
The technology (the software engineering methods)
the process triangle exists within a circle of environmental conditions that
include the development environment, business conditions, customer
characteristics.
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