SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PHASES AND THEIR DOCUMENT TYPES ARE IDENTIFIED. SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTATION OPTIONS ARE GIVEN, AND CONTENT GUIDELINES FOR TEN DOCUMENT TYPES ARE PROVIDED. THE TEN DOCUMENT TYPES ARE AS FOLLOWS: FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT; DATA REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT; SYSTEM/SUBSYSTEM SPECIFICATION; PROGRAM SPECIFICATION; DATA BASE SPECIFICATION, USERS' MANUAL; OPERATIONS MANUAL; PROGRAM MAINTENANCE MANUAL; TEST PLAN; AND TEST ANALYSIS REPORT. THE GUIDELINES ARE INTENDED TO BE A BASIC REFERENCE AND A CHECKLIST FOR GENERAL USE THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PLAN AND EVALUATE DOCUMENTATION PRACTICES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) (SNI ABSTRACT)