Requirements Gathering for Vending Machine

1.1 Functional Requirements for the Vending Machine

Functional Requirements generally describe and define features of end product of software system and simply focuses on what the end product does. These are the requirements that a system should accomplish or do like calculations, data manipulations. Functional requirements of the Vending Machine are:

• The vending machine has to maintain inventory records.
• The machine should allow a user to select an item and insert cash.
• When cash is inserted, the machine should verify that it matches the amount of the chosen item.
• When an item is unavailable or there is insufficient cash, the machine must display an error.
• Upon successful verification and transaction, the vending machine shall dispense the chosen item to the user.
• Ultimately, the user receives the chosen item if all of the previously mentioned stages are successful.

1.2 Non-Functional Requirements for the Vending Machine

Non-functional Requirements in software engineering refer to the characteristics of a software system that are not related to specific functionality or behavior. They describe how the system should perform, rather than what it should do. Non-Functional requirements of the Vending Machine are:

• The inventory records and cash verification mechanisms shall operate with high accuracy to ensure correct transactions.
• The vending machine shall provide timely responses, displaying errors promptly and dispensing items efficiently.
• The user interface shall be designed to be intuitive, making it easy for users to select items, insert cash, and understand error messages.
• The vending machine shall be reliable, minimizing downtime and ensuring consistent functionality.
• The system shall incorporate security measures to prevent unauthorized access to inventory records and cash transactions.
• The vending machine shall be available for use during specified operational hours, minimizing any periods of inactivity for maintenance or other reasons.

Vending machines have become an essential part of our everyday lives, offering various kinds of products starting from snacks and beverages to personal care items. While their capability can also appear simple from a user perspective, the low-level design of a vending machine includes complex info to ensure clean operation, robustness, and safety. In this article, we will dig into the low-level design of a vending machine.