The editor’s preface suggests that this book is suitable both as a text on software design and as a reference for practicing software engineers. In the introduction, Stephens more accurately focuses on his compact book’s value to practitioners. The book is mostly a discussion of method and notation, rather than the discussion of basic design principles that students need.

After a short introduction to software design in general, the author launches into a summary of different methods of architectural (high-level) and integrand (unit) design methods. The architectural design methods covered include structured analysis, essential systems analysis, structured analysis and design technique, structured design, box structured design, and Petri nets. The integrand design methods covered include flowcharts, structured programming, structured natural language, action diagrams, state transition diagrams, Jackson charts, and decision tables. Later chapters discuss entity-relationship data models, software reuse, performance, and object-oriented methods. None of these topics is treated in depth, but the author identifies many sources for the  details. 

As a survey of the different methods available to the practitioner trying to decide how to approach a design problem, and as a quick way to get oriented to a new method that unexpectedly appears at a design review, this book will be helpful. A number of important design topics are not adequately addressed, however, including quality, measurement, and verification. In an omission that will trouble many, Stephens dismisses object-oriented methods as immature in his short discussion of them. Also, although Stephens provides some general comments on the applicability of the methods to different problems, he does not offer any systematic approach to selecting and combining the available methods. Still, most software practitioners will find this book a useful addition to their reference libraries.