Simple yet complete heuristics for transforming data flow diagrams into Booch style diagrams

ABSTRACT

This paper presents some simple heuristics for transforming a requirements specification (for a non-real time application) expressed as a data flow diagram (DFD) into a design architecture expressed as an extended Booch diagram. This architecture provides a starting point for subsequent design refinement. The transformations based on simple heuristics were implemented in a research tool. We show that simple things work. We also show that the design architecture satisfies the property of completeness, i.e. all the information in the DFD is preserved in the Booch diagram, and that it has good coupling and cohesion properties. The design architecture is amenable to various design optimizations by automated or manual means.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Flow charts

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: Ada
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features
          Subjects: Modules, packages

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      I.2.8 Problem Solving, Control Methods, and Search
          Subjects: Heuristic methods

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design