System documentation

Students must be able to explain the purpose and need for creating and distributing system documentation which is internet-based (softcopy), paper-based (physical or hardcopy), or locally-based (local or internal help files).

The purpose of creating and distributing system documentation is to provide users with information about how to use and maintain a computer system or application. System documentation may be created in a variety of formats, including internet-based (softcopy), paper-based (physical or hardcopy), or locally-based (local or internal help files).

There are several reasons why it is important for organizations to create and distribute system documentation:

1. To help users understand how to use the system or application. System documentation can provide users with information about the features and functions of the system or application, as well as step-by-step instructions for using it.
2. To help users troubleshoot problems and perform maintenance tasks. System documentation can provide users with information about common problems that may arise when using the system or application, as well as instructions for troubleshooting and performing maintenance tasks.
3. To help users comply with regulations and policies. In some cases, system documentation may be required in order to comply with regulations or policies that apply to the system or application.
4. To help support staff answer user questions and resolve problems. System documentation can be a useful resource for support staff to use when answering user questions or helping to resolve problems with the system or application.

Overall, the ability to explain the purpose and need for creating and distributing system documentation is an important skill for computer science students, as it enables them to understand the importance of providing users with the information they need to use and maintain computer systems and applications effectively.

Students must be able to explain the purpose, audience and the different components that comprise User documentation (including end-user support for using, installing, troubleshooting, and upgrading a system) and Technical documentation (including system specifications and details, low level software organisation, API, and data-dictionaries for an expert to modify, change or improve a software system).

User documentation is documentation that is intended for end users of a computer system or application. It is typically designed to provide users with information about how to use, install, troubleshoot, and upgrade the system or application. Some examples of the types of information that may be included in user documentation include:

User manuals: Detailed instructions for using the system or application, including information about the features and functions of the system or application and step-by-step instructions for performing common tasks.

Installation guides: Instructions for installing the system or application, including information about hardware and software requirements, prerequisites, and any other necessary steps.

Troubleshooting guides: Information about common problems that may arise when using the system or application, along with instructions for troubleshooting these problems.

Upgrade guides: Instructions for upgrading to a newer version of the system or application, including information about any necessary steps or precautions.

Technical documentation is documentation that is intended for technical experts, such as system administrators or software developers. It is typically designed to provide detailed information about the technical aspects of a computer system or application, including system specifications, low-level software organization, APIs, and data dictionaries. Some examples of the types of information that may be included in technical documentation include:

System specifications: Detailed information about the hardware and software components of a system, including information about their capabilities, performance, and requirements.

Low-level software organization: Detailed information about the structure and organization of the system or application's software code, including information about how the different components of the system or application interact with each other.

APIs: Detailed information about the application programming interfaces (APIs) provided by the system or application, including information about how to use these APIs to interact with the system or application.

Data dictionaries: Detailed information about the data structures used by the system or application, including information about the data types, relationships, and constraints of the data.

Overall, the ability to explain the purpose, audience, and components of user documentation and technical documentation is an important skill for computer science students, as it enables them to understand the different types of documentation that are used to support the use, maintenance, and development of computer systems and applications.

Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.

Use an idea, equation, principle, theory or law in relation to a given problem or issue.