Object-Oriented System Development Methods

Abstract

This chapter explains what is meant by object-orientation, surveys current methods of object-oriented system development, and presents an integrated methodology for performing object-oriented system development. The chapter defines objects and explains object-oriented concepts as a basis for understanding the object-oriented system development methods. Armed with a basic understanding of object-oriented concepts, principles, and terminology, the chapter surveys the background of research and practice in the object-oriented field. The chapter surveys representations of the object-oriented system life cycle and discusses existing methods, techniques, and tools that support the development phases of object-oriented analysis, object-oriented design, and object-oriented implementation and testing. Brief surveys of research and development projects on object-oriented system development methods and tools are presented. A critique of the current state of object-oriented system development (OOSD) concludes the survey. The chapter elaborates OOSD with box structures. As an example of an integrated system development methodology that supports both object-oriented and formal concepts, the cleanroom system development process (CSPD) is presented. The central box structure concepts are shown to support object orientation in system development. Within CSDP, methods of object-oriented analysis (OOA) and object-oriented design (OOD) using box structures are employed. The appendix to the chapter summarizes a case study that demonstrates the use of box structures in a realistic system development. A critique of CSDP discusses the need for more experience with the practical application of cleanroom concepts in real development projects. The chapter presents conclusions and future research directions.