On the automation of code generation for user interface models

ABSTRACT

User interfaces for highly interactive software systems are usually handcrafted in spite of the availability of tools for automatic code generation. Since user interfaces typically constitute 50 to 80% of an interactive system, such automation should provide significant increases in productivity and software quality. We outline in this paper a design approach to user interfaces that will support partially automatic code generation.The design approach is based on the Abstract Data View (ADV) which was originally conceived for the purpose of isolating the specification of the user interface from the application part of the software system. The ADV approach was intended to promote reusability of designs.User interface designs can be presented using ADVcharts, a graphical formalism for ADVs which is based on a state-machine description of the user interface.To produce the ADV implementation, the ADVchart is transformed into a code skeleton. This can be achieved by applying a linearizer to the ADVchart representations and then associating code fragments with the ADVchart components. The linearizer is capable of constructing a program consistent with its specification. This linearizing process is supported by Talisman, a software development meta-environment.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: User interface management systems (UIMS)

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.11 Software Architectures
            Subjects: Data abstraction
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Standardization

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Experimentation, Theory