We analyze the software reliability growth models for the specified period from the viewpoint of theory of differential equations. we defien a genralized form of reliability growth models as follws: dN(t)/dt = b(t)f(N(t)), Where N(t) is the number of remaining faults and b(t) is the failure rate per software fault at time t. We show that the well-known three software reliability growth models - Goel - Okumoto, s-shaped, and Musa-Okumoto model- are special cases of the generalized form. We, also, extend the generalized form into an extended form being dN(t)/dt = b(t, .gamma.)f(N(t)), The genneralized form can be obtained if the distribution of failures is given. The extended form can be used to describe a software reliabilit growth model having weibull density function as a fault exposure rate. As an application of the generalized form, we classify three mentioned models according to the forms of b(t) and f(N(t)). Also, we present a case study applying the generalized form.