Re: Shlaer-Mellor OOA/RD with Ada

Re: Shlaer-Mellor OOA/RD with Ada

[Doc Elliott]

In article <3iat22$pl6@butch.lmsc.lockheed.com>, 
brockwel@zuni.litc.lockheed.com says...
>
>Are there any subsribers who have experience using
>Shlaer-Mellor OOA/RD to develop real-time Ada
>applications?  
>
>Specifically, has anyone automated the architecture
>design / mapping rule definition process?
>
>Please email me if you have any information or advice to
>offer a newcomer to Shlaer-Mellor for Ada applications.
>
>brockwel@lightning.hunts.lmsc.lockheed.com
>
>(205) 722-4080 (phone)
>.
>

We did a study comparing all of the OOD methods available at the time 
(~92?) and looked at tool support, mapping into Ada, availability of 
training etc etc.  I can probably get you a report released through our 
security weenies, but the bottom line was Shlaer - Mellor sucked for real 
time systems.  It has very little capability for defining system 
boundaries - the subtitle of their book was "Modelling the world" and 
that's kinda what you end up doing, rather than modelling your problem 
and solution space.  SM is a data flow oriented model, it depends on what 
appears to be enhanced data flow diagrams for almost all of its database. 
 This is not very good for interrupt driven systems which must be 
deterministic.  Also, the tools available to support it required use of 
some additional methods (such as Harel statecharts) to allow any 
simulation of the system model.

Let me know directly if you want me to get the report released to you - 
it may take a while, and the info is probably somehwat out of date, 
especially the tool support part.
-- 
Doc Elliott
KE4KUZ
Internet: helliott@losat.redstone.army.mil
packet: ke4kuz@k4ry.#cenal.al.usa.noam
The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not
reflect those of my employer or anyone else unless
specifically stated as such.

Re: Shlaer-Mellor OOA/RD with Ada

[RalphH9]

The state of useage and support for Shlaer-Mellor has advanced
dramatically over the past 2 years, so the report on in '92 may be a
little dated.  Several things have changed.

First, new tools have been introduced by my company, Objective Spectrum,
call the BridgePoint family of products.   BridgePoint was built by a
group hlaer-Mellor practitioners frustrated with available tool support. 
The result is a tool set the defines Shlaer-Mellor automation.   Briefly,
BridgePoint Analyst supports OOA, per Shlaer-Mellor,  with SM notation and
preventative data checking.  Users say it helps teach the method. 
BridgePoint Sim allows early validation of model behavior through
interactive simulation.  BridgePoint Gen is a general purpose translation
engine that supports any target implementation architecture/language,
including ADA, through user defined templates.

Second, organizations are starting to automate their design architectures
with BridgePoint allowing for the power of regenerative software systems
to be realized.  Our customers are realizing 87% to 98% code generation
(and regeneration) with their custom built architectures.  The result is
faster design changes in software products, as well as reuseable design
architectures.  Only now, has the power the Shlaer-Mellor methodology been
realizable.

Third, commercial architecture builders are starting enter the
marketplace.  We know of one currently offering custom architecture
building, and we are working to create other architecture builders.  We
also expect to see "packaged" architectures be available on the
BridgePoint platform by year's end.

These three changes are changing  the attitude towards Shlaer-Mellor. 
Users who are employing the method and BridgePoint automation are
realizing REAL results.

If anybody is interested in learning more they can contact me directly.

Ralph Hibbs
Objective Spectrum
901 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27511

voice: 919-460-1500
fax: 919-380-6463

email1: ralphH9@aol.com
email2: ralph.hibbs@objective.com 

Re: Shlaer-Mellor OOA/RD with Ada

[David Weller]

In article <3jacpi$46a@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, RalphH9 <ralphh9@aol.com> wrote:
>interactive simulation.  BridgePoint Gen is a general purpose translation
>engine that supports any target implementation architecture/language,
>including ADA, through user defined templates.
>          ^^^

	*Sigh*  _Another_ marketing bot, hopelessly out of touch.

	Another company to put on my "Don't bother" list.

(That's a cheap excuse anyway, I despise the Schlaer-Mellor method :-)



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