We kick off a multi-part series on requirements engineering by exploring what requirements actually are and why they matter - even for Agilists. Jeff shares his medical device expertise while Luca brings his automotive and aerospace background to discuss the different levels of requirements (from high-level user needs to testable system requirements), the importance of traceability, and why proper tooling beats Word and Excel every time.

We dig into practical aspects like the EARS format for writing requirements, the crucial distinction between requirements and design choices, and why glossaries aren't as boring as they sound. Along the way, we tackle the tension between regulatory compliance and actual engineering value, emphasizing that documentation should be an artifact of diligent work - not the work itself. Whether you're in safety-critical industries or just want to build better products, understanding requirements engineering helps manage complexity and prevent costly mistakes.

"The whole agile movement was a reaction to the one time through the requirements specification build test loop that took several years. By the time you got to the end, the requirements no longer applied." — Jeff

"Do not use an LLM to manage requirements. Do use the LLM to write tools that help you manage requirements." — Luca

"I view any medical device that I work on as if it's going to be used on my child. What do I need to do to convince myself that it is safe and effective? Once I have done that, if there are remaining boxes to check to get it through FDA, I will check those boxes." — Jeff

You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.
You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.

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Ryan Torvik and Luca have started the Embedded AI podcast, check it out at https://embeddedaipodcast.com/