CQV-UML Tool: a tool for managing the impact of change on UML models

An automated change impact analysis and management approach is vital to handle the complexity of adapting software during its evolution. Such an approach reduces the maintenance cost and provides for adequate decision making when confronted with the choice of accepting or ignoring changes. This paper presents a change impact management approach between UML models. It verifies the consistency and the quality of interdependent diagrams after a change is handled. In addition, it calculates the effort required in managing any change and displays a report indicating to the designer all necessary modifications to keep the design coherent. The approach is supported by a toolset, called CQV-UML tool. Keywords—change impact; consistency; quality; effort estimation