A Knowledge-Based Framework of Object-Oriented Software Development Environments

Software development can be seen as a formalization process which, from informal data (problem), leads to a fully formal representation (solution) by successive enrichments and transformations. This paper presents a representation formalism (KLSDE: Knowledge-based representation Language for Software Development Environments) which supports the iterative and evolutionary features of this process. From syntactic and semantic rules described in the domain model and the software process model, the representation is gradually bound by stronger and stronger constraints, according to the degree of formalization. Based on object concepts, KLSDE offers both expressive power as well as simplicity and readability. The power, which stems from knowledge representation techniques, is necessary to build various models such as the software process development, the domain or the solution. Readability and simplicity are required so that the language addresses communication needs. For readability, the language is constructed on current metaphors and concepts. It includes a graphic representation and many structuring mechanisms. Finally, KLSDE is at the center of a development environment. It is parameterized by the user methodology and fulfills the needs for the whole life-cycle.