"Automatic Prototype Generating" restated with re-ADA

Abstract

Structured System Analysis and Design (SSAD) is still considered one of the most straightforward systems approaches, despite both supporting arguments and criticisms. One philosophy in software engineering is to "document everything". However, the waterfall model within SSAD discourages frequent changing of requirements, which is a significant problem to designers. Compared with SSAD, Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) with its modular structured solution allows individual components to be replaced easily at design time or run time if the requirements of the initial component (expressed via the interface) are met by the replacement component. After years of experience in developing and architecting reliable architectures for software-intensive distributed systems, the authors present a PAISE (Perspective-bridged Architecture with Interoperability, Substitutability, and Extensibility) model with the aim of automating systems perspective transitioning through a document-driven approach within SSAD. The authors stress important abilities of architecting application systems such as interoperability , substitutability , and extensibility in support of component-based software engineering. PAISE starts with a conceptual system that is rapidly prototyped for requirements, follows with a technical system that addresses the interior structure of the system, and results in an operational system for business process. In combination with re-ADA (an architectural description language as well as its runtime foundation), PAISE/re-ADA can not only promote a document-driven approach with SSAD, but also automate system perspective transitioning with CBSE.