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Computer-aided software engineering

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Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE), in the field of Software Engineering is the scientific application of a set of tools and methods to a software which results in high-quality, defect-free, and maintainable software products.[1] It also refers to methods for the development of information systems together with automated tools that can be used in the software development process. [2]

Overview

The term "Computer-aided software engineering" (CASE) can refer to the software used for the automated development of systems software, i.e., computer code. The CASE functions include analysis, design, and programming. CASE tools automate methods for designing, documenting, and producing structured computer code in the desired programming language.[3]

Two key ideas of Computer-aided Software System Engineering (CASE) are:[4]

Some typical CASE tools are:

Many CASE tools not only output code but also generate other output typical of various systems analysis and design methodologies such as

History of CASE

The term CASE was originally coined by software company, Nastec Corporation of Southfield, Michigan in 1982 with their original integrated graphics and text editor GraphiText, which also was the first microcomputer-based system to use hyperlinks to cross-reference text strings in documents — an early forerunner of today's web page link. GraphiText's successor product, DesignAid was the first microprocessor-based tool to logically and semantically evaluate software and system design diagrams and build a data dictionary.

Under the direction of Albert F. Case, Jr. vice president for product management and consulting, and Vaughn Frick, director of product management, the DesignAid product suite was expanded to support analysis of a wide range of structured analysis and design methodologies, notable Ed Yourdon and Tom DeMarco, Chris Gane & Trish Sarson, Ward-Mellor (real-time) SA/SD and Warnier-Orr (data driven).

The next entrant into the market was Excelerator from Index Technology in Cambridge, Mass. While DesignAid ran on Convergent Technologies and later Burroughs Ngen networked microcomputers, Index launched Excelerator on the IBM PC/AT platform. While, at the time of launch, and for several years, the IBM platform did not support networking or a centralized database as did the Convergent Technologies or Burroughs machines, the allure of IBM was strong, and Excelerator came to prominence. Hot on the heels of Excelerator were a rash of offerings from companies such as Knowledgeware (James Martin, Fran Tarkenton and Don Addington), Texas Instrument's IEF and Accenture's FOUNDATION toolset (METHOD/1, DESIGN/1, INSTALL/1, FCP).

CASE tools were at their peak in the early 1990s. At the time IBM had proposed AD/Cycle which was an alliance of software vendors centered around IBM's mainframe:

The application development tools can be from several sources: from IBM, from vendors, and from the customers themselves. IBM has entered into relationships with Bachman Information Systems, Index Technology Corporation, and Knowledgeware, Inc. wherein selected products from these vendors will be marketed through an IBM complementary marketing program to provide offerings that will help to achieve complete life-cycle coverage.[5]

With the decline of the mainframe, AD/Cycle and the Big CASE tools died off, opening the market for the mainstream CASE tools of today. Interestingly, nearly all of the leaders of the CASE market of the early 1990s ended up being purchased by Computer Associates, including IEW, IEF, ADW, Cayenne, and Learmonth & Burchett Management Systems (LBMS).

CASE Topics

CASE tools

CASE tools are a class of software that automates many of the activities involved in various life cycle phases. For example, when establishing the functional requirements of a proposed application, prototyping tools can be used to develop graphic models of application screens to assist end users to visualize how an application will look after development. Subsequently, system designers can use automated design tools to transform the prototyped functional requirements into detailed design documents. Programmers can then use automated code generators to convert the design documents into code. Automated tools can be used collectively, as mentioned, or individually. For example, prototyping tools could be used to define application requirements that get passed to design technicians who convert the requirements into detailed designs in a traditional manner using flowcharts and narrative documents, without the assistance of automated design software.[6]

Classification of CASE Tools

Existing CASE Environments can be classified along 4 different dimensions :

  1. Life-Cycle Support
  2. Integration Dimension
  3. Construction Dimension
  4. Knowledge Based CASE dimension [7]

Let us take the meaning of these dimensions along with their examples one by one :

Life-Cycle Based CASE Tools

This dimension classifies CASE Tools on the basis of the activities they support in the information systems life cycle. They can be classified as Upper or Lower CASE tools.

  • Upper CASE Tools: support strategic, planning and construction of conceptual level product and ignore the design aspect. They support traditional diagrammatic languages such as ER diagrams, Data flow diagram, Structure charts etc.
  • Lower CASE Tools : concentrate on the back end activities of the software life cycle and hence support activities like physical design, debugging, construction, testing, integration of software components, maintenance, reengineering and reverse engineering activities.

Integration Dimension

Three main CASE Integration dimension have been proposed : [8]

  1. CASE Framework
  2. ICASE Tools
  3. Integrated Project Support Environment(IPSE)

Applications

All aspects of the software development life cycle can be supported by software tools, and so the use of tools from across the spectrum can, arguably, be described as CASE; from project management software through tools for business and functional analysis, system design, code storage, compilers, translation tools, test software, and so on.

However, it is the tools that are concerned with analysis and design, and with using design information to create parts (or all) of the software product, that are most frequently thought of as CASE tools. CASE applied, for instance, to a database software product, might normally involve:

  • Modelling business / real world processes and data flow
  • Development of data models in the form of entity-relationship diagrams
  • Development of process and function descriptions
  • Production of database creation SQL and stored procedures

Risks and associated controls

Common CASE risks and associated controls include:

  • Inadequate Standardization : Linking CASE tools from different vendors (design tool from Company X, programming tool from Company Y) may be difficult if the products do not use standardized code structures and data classifications. File formats can be converted, but usually not economically. Controls include using tools from the same vendor, or using tools based on standard protocols and insisting on demonstrated compatibility. Additionally, if organizations obtain tools for only a portion of the development process, they should consider acquiring them from a vendor that has a full line of products to ensure future compatibility if they add more tools.[6]
  • Unrealistic Expectations : Organizations often implement CASE technologies to reduce development costs. Implementing CASE strategies usually involves high start-up costs. Generally, management must be willing to accept a long-term payback period. Controls include requiring senior managers to define their purpose and strategies for implementing CASE technologies.[6]
  • Quick Implementation : Implementing CASE technologies can involve a significant change from traditional development environments. Typically, organizations should not use CASE tools the first time on critical projects or projects with short deadlines because of the lengthy training process. Additionally, organizations should consider using the tools on smaller, less complex projects and gradually implementing the tools to allow more training time.[6]
  • Weak Repository Controls : Failure to adequately control access to CASE repositories may result in security breaches or damage to the work documents, system designs, or code modules stored in the repository. Controls include protecting the repositories with appropriate access, version, and backup controls.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kuhn, D.L (1989). "Selecting and effectively using a computer aided software engineering tool". Annual Westinghouse computer symposium; 6-7 Nov 1989; Pittsburgh, PA (USA); DOE Project.
  2. ^ P.Loucopoulus and V. Karakostas. System Requirement Engineering.
  3. ^ CASE definition In: Telecom Glossary 2000. Retrieved 26 Oct 2008.
  4. ^ K. Robinson (1992). Putting the Software Engineering into CASE. New York : John Wiley and Sons Inc.
  5. ^ “AD/Cycle strategy and architecture,” IBM Systems Journal, Vol 29, NO 2, 1990; page 172
  6. ^ a b c d e Software Development Techniques. In: FFIEC InfoBase. Retrieved 26 Oct 2008.
  7. ^ Software Engineering : Tools, Principles and Techniques by Sangeeta Sabharwal, Umesh Publications
  8. ^ Evans R. Rock. Case Analyst Workbenches : A Detailed Product Evaluation. Volume 1 pp 229-242 by
  • [1] - AD/Cycle Strategy and Architecture
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