A CASE tool for software architecture design

Abstract

This paper describes the Software Architect's Assistant, an automated visual tool for the design and construction of Regis distributed programs. Unlike conventional CASE tools and their supported methodologies, the Architect's Assistant supports a compositional approach to program development in which the software architecture plays a central role throughout the software life-cycle--from the early design stage through to system management and evolution.In its implementation, we have addressed some of the limitations of existing CASE tools, particularly in the degree of automated support offered to the human developer. Conscious effort has been made to maximise usability and efficiency, primarily by enhancing the level of automation and flexibility together with careful design of the user interface. Our objective is to provide a tool which automates all mundane clerical tasks, enforces program correctness and consistency and, at the same time, accommodates the individual working styles of its users.Although currently specific to the development of Regis programs, the Architect's Assistant embodies concepts and ideas which are applicable to CASE tools in general.

A classification and comparison framework for software architecture description languages

“…Similarly, C2's DRADEL development environment proactively guides the ªarchitectingº process by disallowing certain operations (e.g., architectural type checking) before others are completed (e.g., topological constraint checking) [42]. Darwin's Software Architect's Assistant [50] is another example of a proactive specification tool. The Assistant automatically adds services (i.e., interface points) of appropriate types to components that are bound together.…”

A Design Complexity Evaluation Framework for Agent-Based System Engineering Methodologies

“…2. It is preferable for an approach to be supported by CASE tools since this reduces development effort and development errors [17] and automates repetitive tasks [20] increasing the usability of the methodology and resulting to lower design complexity. For example, role-based methodologies, such as [15], support abstractability since agent behaviour can be specified at both the level of roles and at the level of role characteristics.…”

A Characterization Framework for Software Deployment Technologies

“…These new approaches are important because they are addressing some of the most complex issues in software deployment. In particular, ArchShell [16] and the Software Architecture Assistant (SAA) [18] are addressing the dynamic aspects of the adapt and update activities. The Software Dock [6] is concerned with integrating support for the whole deployment life cycle into a single, systematic framework.…”