A critical distinction between software verification and validation is that verification checks if the software conforms to its specifications, ensuring that it's built correctly, while validation checks if it meets the customer's needs, ensuring that it's the right software for the intended purpose.

The principle of "Consistency" implies that all API calls should result in the same outcome regardless of how many times the call is repeated. It's a fundamental principle in designing reliable and predictable APIs.

Software Configuration Management facilitates the audit and review processes in software development by tracking changes and providing an audit trail. This allows for accountability and the ability to trace who made changes and when, making audits and reviews more effective.

One common method of stress testing involves deliberately introducing high traffic to observe how the system responds under stress. This helps assess the system's ability to maintain stability and recover from stress-induced issues.

ISO/IEC 25010 classifies software quality into 8 characteristics and 25 sub-characteristics. These characteristics include functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability, and others, each with their own set of sub-characteristics that further categorize quality attributes.

In a Big Bang model, if a major flaw is discovered, the team might have to start from scratch, which can result in wasted effort. The model's lack of incremental development and detailed planning can make it challenging to adapt and rectify critical issues efficiently.

In software engineering, verification ensures that the product is built according to the specified requirements, making it "right." Validation ensures that the product meets the user's needs and is "built right." These two processes work together to ensure the software's quality and alignment with both requirements and user expectations.

For an e-commerce application that requires multiple services like payment, user authentication, and product management, a microservices architecture is suitable. Microservices allow each component to be developed and scaled independently, making it easier to manage and maintain different parts of the application.

User-Centered Design is a graphical UI design approach that prioritizes usability. It focuses on creating interfaces that are intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring that users can easily interact with the system.

Continuous customer or stakeholder involvement in the Agile model can increase the need for quality assurance. Their frequent feedback and evolving requirements necessitate ongoing testing and validation to ensure that the product meets their expectations.

The implementation phase of the SDLC is where the system is actually built or purchased. It involves coding, development, and integration of the components to create the software system.

To accommodate both novice and expert users, a modular UI with user-defined customization is a strategic approach. This allows users to tailor the interface to their level of expertise and preference. Novices can start with a simple layout, while experts can access advanced features. This design balances usability and functionality.