Increase Software Quality Research Articles

Behaviour specification of parallel active objects

The development of parallel programs is primarily concerned with application speed. This has led to the development of parallel applications in which software engineering aspects play only subordinate roles. In order to increase software quality in parallel applications, we motivate the construction of parallel programs by composing active objects which interact by means of an object-oriented coordination model. This paper presents a formalism for specifying the behaviour of parallel active objects and a corresponding notion of behavioural types which can be used for verifying whether certain active objects conform to a specified behaviour. Our approach is based on high-level Petri nets which enable (besides other benefits) automated analysis, in particular for automated type checking of active objects. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach by presenting reusable active objects for a manager/worker architecture. Their correct interaction is shown by automated checking of behavioural types.

An OO framework in the bulk data transfer domain

In the context of experimenting with a reuse process model for the development of reusable components based on Domain Analysis (DA) and Object-Oriented Framework (OOF) techniques, we defined a methodology called SODA (Sodalia's Object-oriented Domain Analysis). This methodology has been applied in the development and instantiation of an OOF related to the domain of elaboration of large amounts of data (Bulk Data Transfer). The experiment has allowed us to prove that DA techniques combined with OOF enable software reuse within a domain. In fact, by allowing multiple instantiations of the domain component, we reduce overall time-to-market and increase software quality.

A REPERTORY GRID APPROACH FOR SOFTWARE COMPONENTS CLASSIFICATION RETRIEVAL

ABSTRACT Software reuse is an important approach to increase software quality and productivity. There are many factors that may affect the result of software reuse. Among them, software component classification and retrieval are two important factors. Identifying the major component attributes is a necessary condition for creating a high efficiency component classification and retrieval. In this paper, we define a component attribute set and its major operations to identify the relationships between two components. In order to increase the efficiency of software reuse, we apply the repertory grid technique which is a more popular skill in knowledge acquisition tools to the component classification and retrieval. According to the identified component relationships and the concept of the repertory grid technique, the component classification model can be created, the reasonable candidate component ranking approach can be presented, and an algorithm for selecting a set of components with combination potential and mutual complement capability can be provided.

An industrial engineering approach to software development

Many different tools and techniques have been developed to increase software quality and productivity. However, periodic acquisition of improved methods and tools, by itself, does not ensure continual improvement. To be effective, new technology must be integrated into an underlying process. That process must be managed explicitly. This paper describes an industrial engineering approach that treats software development as a process distinct from its unique application to any specific project. Its essential elements include formal process definition, software measurement, process engineering, and quality control. Although already successfully embedded in many manufacturing processes, application of industrial engineering techniques to software remains a novelty. Nevertheless, this approach provides the software enterprise with a longterm plan for improving software quality and productivity.

(ISEF): an integrated industrial-strength software engineering framework

ISEF is an environment for programming-in-the-large that integrates disparate software engineering principles, methods and tools into an industrial-strength, automated software development framework. Projects using ISEF have reported increased software quality, improved software manageability and decreased software production costs. This paper presents the basic principles and mechanisms that enable ISEF to achieve environment/process integration as well as integration within the environment itself, describes the ISEF approach to software development, provides comparisons with related work, and reports on experience in using ISEF.

(ISEF): an integrated industrial-strength software engineering framework

ISEF is an environment for programming-in-the-large that integrates disparate software engineering principles, methods and tools into an industrial-strength, automated software development framework. Projects using ISEF have reported increased software quality, improved software manageability and decreased software production costs. This paper presents the basic principles and mechanisms that enable ISEF to achieve environment/process integration as well as integration within the environment itself, describes the ISEF approach to software development, provides comparisons with related work, and reports on experience in using ISEF.

A Methodological Approach to the Design of Real-Time Operating Systems

Increasing diversity in underlying architectures has urged for more research in design methodology for Real Time Operating Systems . This paper describes a proposal for R.T.O.S. production by quasi-parallel simulation and cross compilation. Two compilers which accept nearly the same language ( Pascal extended with processes and monitors ) are used jointly. Using the first one, one is able to design a system, to debug it and to get some rough indications on its quantitative behaviour. With the second compiler it is possible to obtain an operational system for a given target computer configuration. The project is currently under evaluation at the University of Rennes. Several benefits (reduced production costs, increased software quality, …) are hoped to be drawn from the approach. The tools associated with the methodology are furthermore designed to be highly portable.

A methodological approach to the design of real-time operating systems

Increasing diversity in underlying architectures has urged for more research in design methodology for Real · Time Operating Systems. This paper describes a proposal for R.T.O.S. production by quasi-parallel simulation and cross compilation. Two compilers which accept nearly the same language ( Pascal extended with processes and monitors) are used jointly. Using the first one, one is able to design a system, to debug it and to get some rough indications on its quantitative behaviour. With the second compiler it is possible to obtain an operational system for a given target computer configuration. The project is currently under evaluation at the University of Rennes. Several benefits (reduced production costs, increased software quality, …) are hoped to be drawn from the approach. The tools associated with the methodology are furthermore designed to be highly portable.