A Top-Down Visual Approach to GUI development

In this paper, we propose an advance in the field of computer-aided development of interactive applications, which consists in a methodology that integrates the advantages of graph-based design with a visual construction of software applications using component assembly mechanisms. We have exploited such technique enhancing the visual approach to develop the graphic and interactive features of an application interface presented in TAGIVE (Tool for the Aided Generation of Interactive Visual Environments). The top-down development approach prevents possible incorrectness and incompleteness error. The visual development model for both static and dynamic aspects makes more intuitive the design and the implementation. This has the effect to support novice programmers in the development of software applications while reducing expert designers’ workload. Key-Words: user interface design, graphical environments, interactive applications, event management, correctness and completeness.