摘要:

We identify an important type of software design knowledge that we call community-specific folklore and discuss problems with current approaches to managing it. We developed a general framework for a living design memory, built a design memory tool, and deployed the tool in a large software development organization. The tool effectively disseminates knowledge relevant to local software design practice. It is embedded in the organizational process to help ensure that its knowledge evolves as necessary. This work illustrates important lessons in building knowledge management systems, integrating novel technology into organizational practice, and carrying out research-development partnerships.

ISSN:0737-0024    

DOI:10.1207/s15327051hci1001_1

出版商:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.    

年代:1995

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

The specification of a graphical user interface (GUI), like any other part of a computer system, is an incremental process whereby an outline of the system is systematically developed, evaluated, and revised until it is reasonably complete. This article describes some algorithms and procedures that can be used to automate the analysis of a specification to facilitate this iterative process. A propositional production system (PPS) is a notation that can be used by designers to describe the high-level behavior of a GUI. Such a description is executable and relatively easy to learn and use. PPSs are a form of state machine; therefore, much of the theory of state machines can be applied to their analysis. PPSs, however, provide the advantage of semiparallel definitions of state transitions. This is important, as dialogue models of modem GUIs allow a large number of simultaneously available inputs leading to very large state spaces. By dealing in sets of states, a PPS makes the problem of describing the potentially exponential number of state transitions tractable. This article discusses how this innovation can lead to efficient algorithms for analyzing a dialogue model for properties such as task completeness, reversibility of effect, accessibility, connectedness, and avoidance of deadlock.

ISSN:0737-0024    

DOI:10.1207/s15327051hci1001_2

出版商:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.    

年代:1995

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

Object-oriented (OO) technology has been heralded as a solution to the problems of software engineering. The claims are that OO technology promotes understandability, extensibility, evolvabilty, reusability, and maintainability of systems and that OO systems are easy to understand and use. However, this technology has not been as successful as expected. An analysis of experiences and empirical studies reveals that the problem is not the technology per se but that the technology provides no support to software developers in performing the processes the technology requires. We present a cognitive model of software development that details the challenges software developers face in using OO technology. The model focuses on three aspects of software development—evolution, reuse and redesign, and domain orientation. We motivate this model with a variety of firsthand experiences and use it to assess current OO technology. Further, we present tools and evaluations that substantiate parts of this model. The model and tools indicate directions for future software development environment, looking beyond the technological possibilities of OO languages and beyond the context of individual developers and projects.

ISSN:0737-0024    

DOI:10.1207/s15327051hci1001_3

出版商:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.    

年代:1995

数据来源: Taylor