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Published Articles >> Table of Contents >> Abstract
17th IEEE International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE'02)
p. 172
Enabling Iterative Software Architecture Derivation Using Early Non-Functional Property Evaluation
K. Suzanne Barber, University of Texas at Austin
Tom Graser, University of Texas at Austin
Jim Holt, University of Texas at Austin
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DOI Bookmark: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/ASE.2002.1115011
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The structure of a software architecture strongly influences the architecture’s ability to prescribe systems satisfying functional requirements, non-functional requirements, and overall qualities such as maintainability, reusability, and performance. Achieving an acceptable architecture requires an iterative derivation and evaluation process that allows refinement based on a series of tradeoffs. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are developing a suite of processes and supporting tools to guide architecture derivation from requirements acquisition through system design. The various types of decisions needed for concurrent derivation and evaluation demand a synthesis of evaluation techniques, because no single technique is suitable for all concerns of interest. Two tools in this suite, RARE and ARCADE, cooperate to enable iterative architecture derivation and architecture property evaluation. RARE guides derivation by employing a heuristics knowledge base, and evaluates the resulting architecture by applying static property evaluation based on structural metrics. ARCADE provides dynamic property evaluation leveraging simulation and model-checking. This paper presents a study whereby RARE and ARCADE were employed in the early stages of an industrial project to derive a Domain Reference Architecture (DRA), a high-level architecture capturing domain functionality, data, and timing. The discussion emphasizes early evaluation of performance qualities, and illustrates how ARCADE and RARE cooperate to enable iterative derivation and evaluation. These evaluations influenced DRA refinement as well as subsequent design decisions involving application implementation and computing platform selection.
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Citation:
K. Suzanne Barber, Tom Graser, Jim Holt,
"Enabling Iterative Software Architecture Derivation Using Early Non-Functional Property Evaluation,"
ase,
p. 172,
17th IEEE International Conference on Automated Software Engineering (ASE'02),
2002
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