Experiences Using Semi-Formal Methods During Development of Distributed, Research-Oriented, System-Level Software

摘要: The Management System for Heterogeneous Networks (MSHN) is a large, distributed research software system project that began over 18 months ago. primary goal of MSHN to develop framework within which nextgeneration resource management (RMS) issues can be investigated. initial design was developed using basic object-oriented principles and the prototype built with technology (IDL, C++, Java, CORBA). After building an proof-of-concept prototype, we looked standardized terms, symbols diagrams Unified Modeling Language (UML) explain functionality new students staff members development group, as well interested colleagues outside group. As learned more about UML applied it in further detail, found this semi-formal method not only (i) helped us communicate MSHN’s others, but also (ii) improved our design, helping identify bloated packages opportunities object re-use, (iii) enabled easily settle some open questions had previously been sources contention among team. Additionally, Process quite useful research-level, systems software.