Process Programming and Workflow

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Little-JIL

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Process Programming and Workflow

Process programs coordinate the efforts of people, computers, and software tools to support key software development activities. We are developing JIL, a process programming language, and Julia, a decentralized, programmable interpretation engine to guide execution of process programs written in JIL and similar languages. Using JIL we are writing processes for collaborative design and software testing and analysis.

This work also provides a platform for research on how to perform rigorous evaluation, comparison, analysis, evolution and improvement of software development processes themselves. The early focus of this work is on comparison and analysis of software design methodologies.

In LASER, we are developing process programming technology in the context of a distributed process-centered environment. A process centered environment interprets process programs, using them to coordinate the efforts of people, computers, and software tools. It also provides a platform for the evaluation, comparison, analysis, evolution and improvement of software development processes and their support. Programming software development processes will lead to better understanding and improvement of software production, as well as providing more effective computerized support for such processes.

One aspect of this work is CDM, a methodology that uses process programming to codify methodology knowledge and to compare software design methodologies. Thus far, CDM has been used to compare seven design methodologies and further comparisons are planned.

We are also investigating language mechanisms to support process programming, and using process programming languages to write executable code for software processes. Little-JIL is a process programming language that was developed in this context and has been used to write several executable process programs, including one to support Booch Object-Oriented Design. Future process programs are planned to support the entire software lifecycle, including configuration management, managerial support, and improved measurement capabilities.

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