Computational Reeection in Software Process Modeling: the Slang Approach Computational Reeection in Software Process Modeling: the Slang Approach

Software production processes are subject to changes during their lifetime. Therefore, software process formalism must include mechanisms to support the analysis and dynamic modiication of process models , even while they are being enacted. It is thus necessary for a process model to have the ability to reason about its own structure. Petri net based process languages have been criticized because of the lack of these reeective features and their inability to eeectively support process evolution. In this paper we present the reeective features ooered by SLANG, a process formalism based on an high-level Petri net notation. In particular, we discuss the mechanisms to create and modify diierent net fragments while the modeled process is being enacted. Abstract Software production processes are subject to changes during their lifetime. Therefore, software process formalism must include mechanisms to support the analysis and dynamic modiication of process models , even while they are being enacted. It is thus necessary for a process model to have the ability to reason about its own structure. Petri net based process languages have been criticized because of the lack of these reeective features and their inability to eeectively support process evolution. In this paper we present the reeective features ooered by SLANG, a process formalism based on an high-level Petri net notation. In particular, we discuss the mechanisms to create and modify diierent net fragments while the modeled process is being enacted.