Software Requirements Specification (SRS) for Debt Snowball Calculator

Introduction

Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to define the requirements for the development of a Debt Snowball Calculator. This web-based application aims to guide users in creating a debt repayment plan using the snowball method.

Scope:

The Debt Snowball Calculator will provide users with an interface to input details such as their outstanding debts, interest rates, minimum payments, and available funds for debt repayment. The application will generate a personalized debt repayment plan following the snowball method.

System Overview

System Description:

The system will be a client-server application. Users will access the Debt Snowball Calculator through a web browser. The server will handle the logic for debt repayment plan calculations.

System Architecture:

The application will follow a three-tier architecture: presentation layer (client-side browser), application layer (server-side processing), and data layer (storage and retrieval of data).

Functional Requirements

Use Cases:

Generate Debt Repayment Plan:

• Users can input details such as outstanding debts, interest rates, minimum payments, and available funds.
• The system will generate a personalized debt repayment plan following the snowball method.
• Users can view and track their progress in repaying each debt.

Functional Requirements:

Input:

• The system shall allow users to enter details for each outstanding debt, including:
  • Debt Name (Text)
  • Outstanding Balance (Decimal)
  • Interest Rate (Decimal)
  • Minimum Payment (Decimal)
• Users can also input their available funds for debt repayment.

Calculation:

• The system shall calculate the optimal debt repayment plan using the snowball method based on the entered details.

Output:

• The system shall display the personalized debt repayment plan, including the order of debt repayment, monthly payments, and progress tracking.

External Interface Requirements

User Interfaces:

• The user interface shall consist of input fields for each outstanding debt, interest rates, minimum payments, available funds, and a “Generate Plan” button.
• The generated debt repayment plan shall be displayed prominently, showing the order of debt repayment, monthly payments, and progress tracking.

Hardware Interfaces:

• The system should be compatible with standard computing hardware.

Software Interfaces:

• The application will be developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend.
• The backend can be implemented using a server-side framework (e.g., Node.js, Django) with a database for data storage.

Communication Interfaces:

• The application will communicate with the server for debt repayment plan calculations.

Performance Requirements

Response Time:

• The system should provide a response time of under 3 seconds for a typical user input.

Throughput:

• The application should handle at least 50 simultaneous users.

System Constraints

Regulatory Requirements:

• The application should comply with relevant financial regulations.

Hardware Limitations:

• The system should be compatible with devices supporting standard web browsers.

Security Requirements

Authentication:

• User authentication may be implemented for personalized features.

Data Protection:

• User data, if stored, should be securely protected.

Quality Attributes

Reliability:

• The application should provide an accurate debt repayment plan based on the entered details.

Maintainability:

• The code should be well-documented for ease of maintenance.

Usability:

• The user interface should be intuitive, requiring minimal guidance.

Testing Requirements

Test Cases:

Test cases should cover various scenarios with different debts, interest rates, minimum payments, and available funds to ensure an accurate and effective debt repayment plan.

Test Case 1:

• Inputs: Debt 1 – Outstanding Balance = $5,000, Interest Rate = 10%, Minimum Payment = $150. Debt 2 – Outstanding Balance = $8,000, Interest Rate = 15%, Minimum Payment = $200. Available Funds = $500.
• Expected Output: Generate a debt repayment plan following the snowball method, showing the order of repayment, monthly payments, and progress tracking.

Test Case 2:

• Inputs: Debt 1 – Outstanding Balance = 20,000 INR, Interest Rate = 12%, Minimum Payment = 500 INR. Debt 2 – Outstanding Balance = 15,000 INR, Interest Rate = 8%, Minimum Payment = 300 INR. Available Funds = 1,000 INR.
• Expected Output: Generate a debt repayment plan following the snowball method, showing the order of repayment, monthly payments, and progress tracking.

Acceptance Criteria:

• The application is considered successful if it produces a correct and effective debt repayment plan based on the provided details.

Project Timeline

Milestones:

Design, Development, Testing, Deployment.

Development Phases:

Frontend development, Backend development, Testing, Deployment.

Glossary

None

Database Structure

Tables:

DebtSnowball_Calculator_Records:

• RecordID (Primary Key, Auto-increment)
• UserID (Foreign Key, if user accounts are implemented)
• DebtName (Text)
• OutstandingBalance (Decimal)
• InterestRate (Decimal)
• MinimumPayment (Decimal)
• AvailableFunds (Decimal)
• DebtRepaymentOrder (Integer)
• MonthlyPayment (Decimal)
• ProgressTracking (Text)
• CalculationDate (DateTime)

Conclusion

This SRS document outlines the requirements for the Debt Snowball Calculator. It serves as a guide for the development team and ensures that the application meets the specified criteria. Review and approval by relevant stakeholders are essential before proceeding with the development phase.