IEEE 1016-1998, also known as the Recommended Practice for Software Design Descriptions, is an IEEE standard that specifies an organizational structure for a software design description (SDD). An SDD is a document used to specify system architecture and application design in a software related project.

The Document should contain at least the following chapters:

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. Design Overview
   2. Requirements Traceability Matrix
      Traceability matrix
      A traceability matrix is a document, usually in the form of a table, that correlates any two baselined documents that require a many to many relationship to determine the completeness of the relationship...
      
      
2. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
   1. Chosen System Architecture
   2. Discussion of Alternative Designs
   3. System Interface Description
3. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS
   1. Component n
   2. Component n+1
4. USER INTERFACE DESIGN
   1. Description of the User Interface
      1. Screen Image
      2. Objects and Actions
5. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

In March 2009, the IEEE-SA Standards Board approved a revision to IEEE 1016. The revision upgrades the recommended practice to a full IEEE standard. The standard is titled Standard for Information Technology — Systems Design — Software Design Descriptions.

External links

• IEEE Std 1016-1998 IEEE Recommended Practice for Software Design Descriptions
• A Software Design Specification Template