A language directed software development environment

Abstract

This paper presents the design and prototype implementation of a language directed Software Development Environment (SDE) which permits the hiding of developmental information, provides a flexible means of control of the system, and provides a framework for the support of various software development methodologies. This language directed SDE, which is based upon an underlying system framework called Design Plans (DP), provides flexible support to the user, and allows for the hiding of developmental information. Design plans are similar to procedures found in many high level languages. Design plans in the SDE developed in this research, however, interface closely with underlying Databases (DB). These DBs provide a means of storing and accessing environmental knowledge concerning the software project under development. The definition of the DB structure is given within the DPs in terms of components and elements which are the basic building blocks of the DB. Design plans are intended to be used in implementing software development methodologies in conjunction with the command language of the system and various support tools. It has been shown in this research that design plans can be constructed in such a manner so as to relieve the user of the necessity of entering many explicit commands. The language designed in this research for the implementation of DPs is divided into three groups. The first group is the command group which provides the primary interface to the SDE by the user. A DB access group provides query type access to the DB while the third, a programming language group, utilizes structured constructs to tie the DPs together. A prototype SDE was developed to demonstrate the hiding concepts and to provide insight into the design of a production SDE. The prototype was designed specifically to support simulation software development. It is implemented on a Texas Instruments 990/12 minicomputer in PASCAL. The support tools in the prototype include an integration of preexisting facilities with tools developed specifically for inclusion in this SDE. Sample scenarios using design plans and database components and elements are presented. Conclusions based on the experiences in this research are given along with suggestions for future work.