Using object-Z to compare the MVC and PAC architectures

Object-oriented architectures for Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's) model the interface as a composition of interacting objects which each present an internal state to the user and provide operations on that state. Two such architectures are Model-View-Controller (MVC) and Presentation-Abstraction-Control (PAC). We use Object-Z to describe examples of the MVC and PAC architectures. We compare the characteristics of the architectures and consider the efficacy of Object-Z as a tool for modelling user-interface architectures.

[1]  Christine Mingins,et al.  Technology of Object-Oriented Languages and Systems 24 , 1997 .

[2]  J. Michael Spivey,et al.  The Z notation - a reference manual , 1992, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science.

[3]  Gregory D. Abowd,et al.  Agents: Communicating interactive processes , 1990, IFIP TC13 International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction.

[4]  Leonard J. Bass,et al.  Developing software for the user interface , 1991, The SEI series in software engineering / Software Engineering Institute.

[5]  Simon Charles Roger Lewis,et al.  The Art and Science of SmallTalk , 1995 .

[6]  Ralph Johnson,et al.  design patterns elements of reusable object oriented software , 2019 .

[7]  Paul R. Calder,et al.  Composing user interfaces with InterViews , 1989, Computer.

[8]  Joëlle Coutaz The Construction of User Interfaces and the Object Paradigm , 1987, ECOOP.

[9]  Stephen Travis Pope,et al.  A cookbook for using the model-view controller user interface paradigm in Smalltalk-80 , 1988 .

[10]  Gilbert Cockton,et al.  The architectural bases of design re-use , 1991 .

[11]  Michael D. Harrison,et al.  Abstract Interaction Objects , 1993, Comput. Graph. Forum.

[12]  Joëlle Coutaz,et al.  PAC, an Object Oriented Model for Dialog Design , 1987 .

[13]  Peter Johnson,et al.  A framework for integrating UIMS and user task models in the design of user interfaces , 1991 .

[14]  Jean-Marc Nerson,et al.  Applying object-oriented analysis and design , 1992, CACM.

[15]  Michele Marchesi Object-oriented programming with smalltalk/V , 1994 .

[16]  Francis Neelamkavil,et al.  Designing the Next Generation of UIMS , 1991 .