Tool Support for Collaborative Software Prototyping
Tool Support for Collaborative Software Prototyping
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Date
1998-10-15
Authors
Elliot A. Shefrin ,
James M. Purtilo ,
Advisor
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DRUM DOI
Abstract
Prototyping is a means by which requirements for software projects can be
defined and refined before they are committed to firm specifications for
the finished software product. By this process, costly and time-consuming
errors in specification can be avoided or minimized. Reconfiguration is
the concept of altering the program code, bindings between program
modules, or logical or physical distribution of software components while
allowing the continuing execution of the software being changed.
Combining these two notions suggests the potential for a development
environment where requirements can be quickly and dynamically evolved.
This paper discusses reconfiguration-based prototyping (RBP), that is, the
simultaneous consideration of requirements, software behavior and user
feedback within a running system in order to derive a clear specification
of an intended product. Tools enabling RBP can coordinate the efforts of
developers, users and subject matter specialists alike as they work
towards consensus on an application's specification by means of a
prototype. The authors describe the scope of the modifications that can
be effected by an integration of prototyping and reconfiguration
protocols, and they then demonstrate that the technology exists to create
such an environment. They conclude by describing a software development
environment based on RBP.
(Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-95-5)