K. Ingram 1 Oct 2001

Software Development Tools

K. Ingram 2 Oct 2001

Contents

Tools – what are they, why are they needed?

Software Development Tools – why are they needed

Existing Toolkits Integration CASE

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ToolsRef. Longman’s dictionary: An implement that is used, .., to carry out work of a

mechanical nature Something used in performing an operation or

necessary in the practice of a vocation or professionWhy use tools? To make tasks easier To increase productivity (volume, strength or quality

of outputs) Allow larger or more complex products to be produced

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The need for Software development tools

1960s – Wages were low,hardware costs high

1990s – Wages extremely high,hardware costs low

Thus need to make software development efficient, so reducing costs

Advent of more complex and more critical software

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Costs in Software Development

Analysis and Design time-consuming Systems are complex to comprehend Coding may be tedious Testing can be all of the above Documentation may become out-of-date Fast turn-over of staff

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Aims of Software Development Tools

To increase:– Productivity– Product quality– Use of less skilled

staff– Staff satisfaction

To reduce:– Software

development time– Amount of testing– Training– Errors– Costs

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Programmer’s Toolkit

Basic needs: Operating system utilities, Editors, Translators

Further assistance: language sensitive editors, debuggers, utility programs (e.g. sorts), component libraries

Extra: test data generators, code generators, report generators, configuration managers

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Designer’s Toolkit

Screen painters, data dictionary, wizards for table/form/report/query design, diagram manipulators for flowcharts

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Analyst’s Toolkit

Diagram manipulators for models, model consistency checkers, word processors

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Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools

Classified by function: (ref. Appendix)– Project management

– Support

– Analysis and design

– Programming

– Integration and testing e.g. simulation e.g. test management

– Prototyping e.g. 4GLs

– Maintenance e.g. reverse engineering

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Computer Aided Software Engineering Tools

Classified by level:– Lower-CASE: specific to an architecture– Upper-CASE: architecture-independent– Integrated-CASE

Planning

System investigation

Systems analysis

System design

Implementation

Review and maintenance

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Integration

Most people do not work alone these days – tools must incorporate group work, job overlaps and flow between tasks

Integrated tools have been available since 1980s e.g. Cradle e.g. Select SSADM e.g. Select Enterprise - Any problems??

Groupware Process-centred software engineering environments

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Summary: Software Engineers as Producers

Engineers use their skills and a toolset, at a workbench, in a workshop, to make products

Software engineers:– The skills = analysis, design, programming, etc.– The tools = useful facilities e.g. program editor– The workbench = the environment in which the

tool sits e.g.Microsoft’s Visual Basic software– The workshop = an Integrated Project Support

Environment

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Conclusion

Software engineering: A technological and managerial discipline concerned with the systematic production and maintenance of high quality software products that are developed and modified on time and within cost estimates

Software development tools aim to increase the chances of success in an ever-changing discipline, with ever-changing technology.

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Appendix 1

K. Ingram 16 Oct 2001

Project Management Tools cost estimating e.g. Cocomo, Putnam time/resource scheduling e.g. Pert, Network

Analysis metrics for productivity, quality,

complexity e.g. McCabe method, e.g. Halstead method

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General Support Tools documentation infrastructure configuration, traceability, re-use

repositories

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Analysis and Design Tools for diagrams and their attributes consistency checking - between levels,

between diagrams

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Programming Tools 3GL coding tools 4GL tools object oriented tools

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Integration and Testing Tools data collection static measurement dynamic measurement simulation test management

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Prototyping Tools executable language specifications very HLLs 4GLs operating system utilities

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Maintenance Tools reverse engineering code restructuring and analysis