Project Title:
A Plug-Compatible Architecture for Integrating Heterogeneous, Distributed, Software
06.02-3633
910756
A Plug-Compatible Architecture for Integrating Heterogeneous, Distributed, Software
Development Tools
Symbiotics, Inc.
725 Concord Avenue
Cambridge
MA
02138
Robert C.
Paslay
617-876-3635
GSFC
NAS5-31920
103
06.02-3633
910756
Abstract:
A Plug-Compatible Architecture for Integrating Heterogeneous, Distributed, Software
Development Tools
A multitude of useful tools exist for designing, testing, operating, maintaining,
and managing large software systems. Unfortunately, tools that support particular
system development tasks (e.g., requirements specification and traceability analysis)
are typically implemented independently by different vendors with little consideration
for the life-cycle process as a whole. Accordingly, these tools are implemented with
idiosyncratic data models and with data and control interfaces using different programming
languages and running on heterogeneous processors. An innovative architecture for
nonintrusively integrating disparate program tools into a unified software engineering
and management environment will be designed. Specific technical innovations will
be the application of object-oriented technologies to conceal tool-specific interfaces;
to map transparently across incompatible data mode; to integrate tools transparently
across heterogeneous computing environments; and to obtain plug-compatibility, wherein
any tool, once integrated, can interact freely with any other tool connected to the
framework as full peers. The resulting architecture will enable NASA to unify disparate
software tools in domains such as software development, scientific data analysis,
and decision support.
The technology can be used to integrate new and previously isolated software applications
in domains such as concurrent engineering, software engineering and management, office
automation, and automated operations support of complex systems (e.g., communications
networks).
object-oriented programming, software engineering, system integration, plug compatibility,
distributed systems