Systems Engineering an Interactive Software Tool for Creating Interactive Graphical User Interfaces

Abstract

This thesis presents the Systems Engineering Life Cycle and its application to the development of an interactive software tool, XMISE. This software tool allows users to interactively create and specify interactive graphical user interfaces for X Window System- and OSF/Motif-based software applications. This thesis describes each phase in the Systems Engineering Life Cycle and details how each phase was performed during the development of XMISE, including the Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) tools employed, the required team interaction, the outputs produced, the reviews held, and the lessons learned. Examples of the different types of documentation produced during each life cycle phase are included.<P>By following the Systems Engineering Life Cycle and applying principles of Systems Engineering, a software tool was produced that meets customer and user requirements, solves the stated needs, and is documented with requirements traced from analysis through implementation and testing.