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Software engineering, Scientific Research, Program Development Techniques, Database, Programming Language, Rule-Based System, Rapid Prototyping, Object-Oriented Programming, Relational Database, and Software engineering -- Methods

The design and rapid prototyping of data-intensive software applications can be accomplished via the use of Logres and Algres, two advanced database programming languages. Logres, a new-generation programming language, integrates rule-based programming with an object-oriented data model. Algres is a relational system that manages complex database relationships. Algres does not have the necessary programming constructs needed to implement imperative computations. Expressive power and openness to external libraries can be gained by embedding Algres into the C programming language, resulting in the Alice programming interface. THe Logres/Algres software platform allows data-intensive applications to be prototyped rapidly.

Software Design, Prototype, Specifications, Methods, Software engineering, and Software engineering -- Methods

Use of software transformations for software evolution is examined. The effects of software transformations on program synthesis and program optimization have been studied extensively, but it remains difficult to specify the desired behavior of a software system before the implementation is developed. The use of software transformations for developing requirements based on software prototyping is explored. Emphasis is placed on transformations that change a system's behavior. A new, general classification of transformations is presented. The transformations are based on their effects on system interfaces, externally observable behavior and the abstraction level of a system description. A process model for software evolution is described that utilizes prototyping techniques and utilizes the new class of transformations to support the process.

Prototype, Methods, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Program Development Techniques, and Software Engineering -- Methods

Operational prototyping avoids the dangers of combining rapid prototypes with evolutionary prototypes by layering a rapid prototype atop a solid evolutionary base. Rapid, or throwaway, prototypes are often used in an attempt to discover the customer's true needs; evolutionary prototypes are built in a quality manner and implement only confirmed requirements. Both have their limitations, and a combination of the two often results in trying to extensively evolve a rapid prototype. With an operational prototype, an evolutionary prototype is made into a baseline using typical development methods, and only the requirements that are well understood are specified and implemented. Multiple customer sites and a trained prototyper receive copies of the baseline, and the prototyper watches the user at the system at each site. Additional operational prototyping concepts are discussed.

Prototype, Programming Language, Software Engineering, and Expert Systems

Rapid prototyping languages are being developed to reduce the cost of software development. A software prototype is an executable initial version of a proposed system. Prototypes are built to assess the usefulness and performance of a proposed system, and as such, they must be built economically and quickly. Th goals of a rapid prototyping language are: to rapidly construct and adapt software; to enable development of more powerful systems; to validate that proposed systems are acceptable to users; to check the internal consistency of proposed designs; to ensure the correctness of transformations; and to verify that implementations fully conform to specifications. The design of a rapid prototyping language discussed, with special attention paid to issues involving expert system prototyping.

Software Engineering, New Technique, Case Study, Methods, Utilization, System Design, Prototype, Resource Allocation, Artificial Intelligence, State-of-the-Art, and Mitre Corp. Artificial Intelligence Technical Center -- Research

The Artificial Intelligence Center of Mitre Corp (McLean, VA) developed software storming as an experimental method for prototyping software systems more rapidly and with greater functionality than with other prototyping methods. Software storming is an intense four-week initial prototype software design and implementation effort (plus follow-on phase) that utilizes domain experts and knowledge engineers plus state-of-the-art software development tools and hardware. The four weeks consist of problem definition, action plan development, brainstorming during knowledge engineering and analysis and review. The follow-on phase consists of revision and refinement of the software system. The major differences from other prototyping methods are use of experts to work with knowledge engineers to incorporate appropriate knowledge into a software system and evaluate it and the videotaping of the storming process to improve technique. Software storming was applied to the design of a software system for optimizing placement of equipment in the US Army Mobile Subscriber Equipment System.

Very-Large-Scale Integration, Computer-Aided Design, Software Engineering, Methods, Object-Oriented Data Bases, Utilization, Iteration, Requirements Analysis, Specifications, Ontologic Inc. -- Product information, and Vbase (Data base management system) -- Usage

The development of the Cbase computer-aided design (CAD) framework for very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit design at the University of Southern California demonstrates the value of a rapid prototyping strategy based on an object-oriented data base management system (OODBMS). A major problem in the development of large software systems is specifying and analyzing the potential users' requirements. The software engineer needs tools that enable the evolution of the system design in a manner that can accommodate incomplete initial requirements specifications as well as changing requirements. Rapid prototyping tools enable interactive development, refinement and analysis of multiple software system prototypes. An OODBMS facilitates the process by providing reusable code modules, powerful modeling capabilities and generic programming. Ontologic's commercial Vbase OODBMS package and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology X11 toolkit were employed to develop Cbase.

Real-Time System, Prototype, Programming Language, ADA, Embedded Systems, Large-Scale Systems, Software Quality, Software Engineering, and Technology

Present software development methods are not sufficient to handle the fast growing demand for larger systems and higher-quality software. Rapid prototyping may be the solution for improved programming productivity and software reliability. PSDL is a system description language for describing prototypes of real-time software systems. PSDL supports rapid prototyping based on abstractions and reusable software components. It is useful for very large real-time systems and for prototyping typical Ada applications. Information is provided on control constraints, computational models, timing constraints, hierarchical constraints, requirements for the hyperthermia system, prototyping methodology and the support environment.

Prototype, Methods, Aerospace Engineering, Research and Development, Flight Control Systems, System Development, Strategic Planning, Software Engineering, United States. Dryden Research Center, Simulation, Flight Simulator, and United States. Dryden Flight Research Center -- Research

The Dryden Flight Research Facility of the NASA Ames Research Center (Edwards, CA) has developed and is enhancing a rapid prototyping facility (RPF) for developing and testing advanced avionics systems. Specifically, the system is designed to perform flight research on avionics employing conventional techniques and/or knowledge-based systems (KBSs) for control. RPF is an extension of the agency's remotely augmented vehicle (RAV) facility, which tests a variety of control algorithms on research aircraft without the need for expensive ongoing avionics modifications. RAV consists of a research aircraft, ground-based auxiliary computational facility and simulator for flight systems development and validation. The enhanced RPF will enable flight-test planning and the real-time simulation of flight performance. Details of the system are discussed.

New Technique, Relational Languages, Research and Development, Methods, Application Development Software, Cost Benefit Analysis, Applications, System Design, Strategic Planning, ADA, Prototype, and Software Engineering

A relational programming methodology is developed that enables the rapid design and prototyping of complex, evolutionary software applications, even by non-professionals with minimal supervision. Only relational data structures are used for system content and interface, and programming uses relational languages with an emphasis on relational algebra. The method is successfully applied to the development of two large projects: the Ada Relational Translator experimental compiler-interpreter for Ada and the Multi-Micro Line tool set for constructing multi-microprocessor applications. Cited advantages of the relational programming methodology include: avoiding early commitment to designing data structures and algorithms, extensive facilities for extracting data views when unanticipated functions must be added, and program structuring is decoupled from programming group structure.

Prototype, New Technique, Application Development Software, Object-Oriented Languages, Smalltalk (Computer program language), Software Design, and Software Engineering

The Smalltalk object-oriented programming language developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the early 1970s offers a completely new environment for software development. Smalltalk is not easy to learn, even for programmers with experience in standard languages. Excellent references to Smalltalk are the Blue Book and the Orange Book: the Blue Book deals mainly with features of the language, while the Orange Book deals with the environment. Learning the language poses a short-term disadvantage, but the long-term gains in productivity may be worth the initial investment. Commercial versions of Smalltalk are available on workstations like the Tektronix 440X series, the Sun, and the IBM PC AT; implementations for the MicroVAX are under development.

Prototype, Specifications, Performance Specifications, Software Engineering, Program Development Techniques, and Comparative Study

There has been much discussion on the relative merits of the specification-driven approach to software development versus the prototyping approach. An experiment has been conducted to give some basis for comparison of the two approaches. Seven software teams developed the same application software product. Three used the prototyping approach, four the specifying approach. Results indicate that prototyping required less effort and less code for equivalent performance. Prototyped products were easier to learn and use but rated lower on functionality and robustness. Specified products were easier to integrate.

Prototype, Software Engineering, Methods, Integrated Approach, Software Design, Utilization, and Comparison

Computer-aided rapid software prototyping is a highly efficient method for the rapid development of low-maintenance software. The technology is based on a process model that focuses on requirements specification, design, validation, evaluation and tradeoffs between the related software and hardware systems. Rapid prototyping provides evolutionary development of software through the use of an integrated design environment. The output of the process is a working software system model that may be used as a functional or behavioral specification for the final product, a feasibility study for a more complex system or validation of the requirements of the target software system. Advantages of rapid prototyping include greater use of abstraction earlier in the software development process, lower cost of software maintenance and easier integration into the entire hardware/software system.