Computer-Aided Process Organization In Software Deslgn

As the complexity of systems increase, the need for computer-aided techniques in software system definition, design, ·and construction becomes apparent. It is the ultimate task of software engineering to develop tools and procedures which reduce the effort invol ved in production of effective software. Effective software must possess characteristics of correctness, reliability, efficiency, documentation, and flexibility. This paper deals with the devel opment of a computer-aid for one portion of the software system design probl em, namely, the determination of process organization in program modul e specification. INTRODUCTION model, the determination of an ·effective modularization of the processThe purpose of computer-aids in design ing activities is an important eleis to reduce manpower and time investment. The focus of thls current rements while improving the quality of search in the PLEXSYS (Konsynski and design by evaluating more alternatives Nunamaker, 1981) effort is the identiand accommodating the complexity that fication and specification of program humans cannot. Secondary benefits inmodules. clude: improved operation of the design process, documentation of both the system requi rements and desi gn dePROGRAM MODULE DESIGN cisions, and ease of modification and determination of the impact due to A system is composed of interacting change. parts that operate together to achieve some objective or purpose. Information This paper deal s with the devel opment system requi rements can therefore be of a computer-aid for one portion of described in terms of characteristics the information system design problem of the system components and the rel a-the determination of program modutionship between those components. les in design of the software. While From the standpoint of program modul e the discussion will focus on program determination, the focus is on the inmodule design for information systems, formation system as a system of interthe theory and principles are di rectly acting processes which act to transapplicable to basic design of large port and modify data. The term "procappl ication programs. ess" can thus be used to describe the activities of the system. Processes Whether the development model is a and their interrelationships neces"1 ife cycl e" model or a "prototyping" sarily exhibit a high degree of com-