A predominant obstacle of model based software

development – is communication

Karsten Holm,

Head of Consultancy Division, Soft Design A/S

The challenge – the human aspect

• Generating code and applications from models leaving all

the artifacts of the machine language to the machines is

daily life to me. We model databases. We model screens.

We model code structures, and we populate the

structures with logic.

• The challenge is understanding the customer needs,

documenting these, fixating these in time, and securing

that the customer knows what we are doing and what he

gets as the final product.

The challenge – the human aspect

• How do we communicate our model to the originator of

the problem/project? This is a vital point. Without

communication we can not have our model validated nor

extended by the information we might have missed but is

clearly seen by the business stakeholders.

Biography

Karsten Holm

– Bch. Sc. EE

– Head of department at Soft Design A/S

• Soft Design

• Bonnier Publications

• Zürich Financial Services / Center of Excellence Copenhagen

• Soft Design

Soft Design A/S

• Founded 1985.

• Vision of using CASE to create unique competitive software solutions.

• Specifically the CASE tool 2E from Synon - one of the founders, John Leadbetter, found the tool unique and with a huge future potential.

• Slow but steady growth - Today staff of 40+

In traditional approaches, 80% of the time is dedicated to the infrastructure of the application and 20% only to its business dimension (Source: IDC)

The history of 2E and Plex

• Started in 1984 with Synon/2E- a tool dedicated to IBM

System 38.

• 1987 Synon/2E was launched with the IBM AS/400

platform generating Cobol and/or RPG source and DDS

for the database objects.

• 1993 the 2E successor was released as Obsydian.

• 1998 the tools were acquired by Sterling Software and

renamed COOL:2E / COOL:Plex.

• 2000 Sterling was acquired by Computer Associates, CA

and the products were renamed CA2E and CA Plex.

Our contribution: Websydian

• 1998 Soft Design release the first version of Websydian,

adding a runtime element, patterns and abstracts to the

Plex product allowing it to define the client as a browser

using HTML.

• A WML version was also included allowing the

development of WAP applications.

• Patterns for SOAP, XML are also offered.

• Latest we have released patterns and objects for the

development of RIA applications based on the script

libraries of Sencha (Ext JS).

First assumption

Originally we believed model based development was a key

selling point.

We did so for 10 to 15 years.

When selling cars, carbon fiber, aluminum and high tech

materials are busswords and good selling points.

When developing software, ARAD and model based

development are NOT. We are the few believers

My point is:

Model based development will not have a major

breakthrough in main stream industry before we have

convinced opinion makers of its value.

Local customers - Solutions

International – Tools (Websydian) America

ADA County

AFG

Angel Works Enterprises

Caraustar

Computer Arts, Inc.

Conn's Appliances, Inc

County of NY

CSC

Data Specialists

Datamatics

Extol Group Inc.

First Data Corp.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber

Gulfstream Aerospace

Hubbell Power Systems

IBM Global Services

Interamericana

Knovalent

Lincoln Investment Planning

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation

Marianas Information Technology

Corporation

McLanes Advanced Technologies

Medical Mutual Liability Insurance

Mennonite Mutual Aid

North American Stainless

Patient Focus Systems

ReadyPac Produce

RFID

Silocaf of New Orleans

State of Illinois Capital Development Board

Texas A & M University

United Heritage Mutual Life

Austria

Birner

Hannover Insurance

NIIT Technologies

Silhouette

Belgium

IBS

Bermuda

BF&M Insurance Group

Canada

Royal Bank of Canada

Winnipeg Transit

Chile

Distribucion Y Servicios

Mutual de Seguros de Chile

Croatia

DUKAT

Denmark

Bonnier Magazine Data A/S

FDC

De forende Dampvaskerier A/S

Dana

Dania Trucking A/S (Mærsk)

Danpot A/S

Dansikring A/S

Dansk Shell A/S

DHL

Euler Hermes

KODA

Kommunekemi

Lærerstandens Brandforsikring

Nomeco

Nordfrim

Novasol

Sanistål

Ecuador

Diners

Seguros Equinoccial

Finland

Iptor Oy

NCC Rakennus OY

OY Karl Fazer

Yrittäjäin ATK palvelu

France

Alain Manoukian

BCBG Max Azria Group Inc.

Gessi/Gecina

IN Concept

Le Club Createurs De Beaute

Peugeot - Sofira

Prudence Creole

Germany

All About Software Gmbh

Carat

Chrysler

Euronics Deutschland eG

Harry Brot

NBV UGA

NIIT Technologies

Praktiker

Straton IT-Consulting

T-Systems

Hong Kong

Chinese Estate Limited

Iceland

Vigor

India

NIIT Technologies

Israel

Maccabi Healthcare Services

Italy

Bennet SPA

COMUNE DI BAGNO A RIPOLI

Mondo Software

Licosa

Nova System Engineering

Isle of Reunion

Foucque

Jamaica

Computer Infinity

Japan

BCC

HI Technology

Takaya Corp.

Mexico

AMUCSS

IDEE

New Zealand

ISA

MCK Metals Pacific

Netherlands

Alcredis

Docra Management & Agency

Dutch Missing Persons Web Site

Koninklijke Gazelle BV

LeasePlan (NL)

Synobsys

Vereniging Kamers van Koophandel

Norway

Apollo

Oslo Forsikring

TONO

Poland

Bank Zachodni WBK

Softbank

Portugal

Maeil Consultores

Puerto Rico

Efco

Slovenia

ZRC d.d. Trbovlje

South Africa

Axiom

Columbus Stainless

SPAR

Spain

APEMSA

Sweden

Agria

Aller

Datakonkret AB

Iptor Konsult

Kappa Kraftliner AB

KP Pension

Resurs Bank

Stim

Sydved

Switzerland

ANTARES Informatik AG

CM First AG

Delta Logic AG

Electrolux

F+L/ASC

Hapimag Verwaltungs-und

Vertriebsgesellschaft HAVAG AG

Karger

NIIT Technologies

PanGas

United Kingdom

Anglia Regional CO-OP Soc

Domestic & General

Flying Start Computing

Mortgage Trust

Paragon Group

Platform Home Loans limited

PricewaterhouseCoopers UK

Saga Holding Limited

Salvesen Logistics

Suttons

Touchstone Housing Association

Zurich Financial

Applications

Sanistål - webshop

• 175,000 Items

• > 100,000 Items on stock

• 20,000 recurrent customers

Lærestandens Brandforsikring

• 2,000 millions DKR premium

• 800,000 policies

Until model based development becomes a ”buzzword”

We will stick to ”What we deliver”

- leave the ”How” until asked.

The second assumption

Business analysts, accountants, test and conformity staff…

• We did ER-Diagrams.

• We did Data Flow Diagrams.

• We did Web Flow Diagrams.

They did not “get it”

– and they reverted to the text processing adding even more text to make sure we understood.

The specifications

For many end-users the GUI is the application!

Use cases often describe the how not the what.

Daily rules are described – exceptions come after testing.

Tests are targeting weaknesses of the current system, not

validating concepts and foundation of the new system

Word and Excel persist.

Third assumption – the professionals

Motivation factors

• Modern tools

• Multi layer

• Multi platform

• Current technologies; HTML, XML, SOA, etc.

• Less manual code

• More ’business’, less ’binaries’

Polarized community

Many opponents

• Closed and proprietary

• Inefficient code

• Impossible to maintain

• Generators do not work

Ekkard Kindler was interviewed to Version/2 and received

40+ responses. They were not actually pro.

We need good PR !

Our own medicine

Webshops and self-service solutions connect our customers,

clients and members to our applications.

The cloud forces us take the same medicine because now

our applications are no longer locally hosted and

controlled.

There are differences but the big picture remains unchanged.

The Cloud

Trend

• Local development and execution:

Requirements -> Software / Service windows

• IaaS, Hosting: Maintained environment

• PaaS, Platform as a Service

• SaaS, Software as a Service

Requirements > Solutions architecture > Identify provider(s)

SLA Service Level Agreement

• Personalized Software as a Service

Integration

1970 – ’80

Local isolated systems, custom-written for the business

1990 - 2000

On platform integration

Cross platform integration (EDIFACT (’96), XML )

2000 – 2010

Standardization and consolidation on application level (e.g. SAP)

Today

Cloud!

Replication of data (e.g. LDAP), Federation (trusted partners)

Integration

No matter what you model, you need to interact with other

systems.

An easy way of publishing services is required.

An easy way of consuming services from others is required.

Let’s get the message out there