Large app development a job for OO A&D tools - object-oriented analysis and design tools for large application development

Software Magazine, Jan, 1994 by Mitch Kramer

According to McBride, CGI consultants are working with a large defense contractor to implement a weapons system that is part of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). For the project, developers manually performed analysis and design using ObjectMaker from Mark V Systems Ltd., Encino, Calif., as a tool to draw the models.

"Our methodology is actually being piloted with this project," McBride said. "Our development partner is codifying the methods as we progress. When we're done, we'll have a tool that automates the methodology. That tool will simplify future projects of this size and scope."

Automation tools like CGI's facilitate the use of methodologies for large projects involving many analysts, designers and developers. White boards cannot offer the communication, coordination and control that an automation tool brings to a project. "Object analysis and design ned a toolset. Object methodologies need what conventional methodologies like Information Engineering had with tools like the IEF [Information Engineering Facility] from Texas Instruments Inc., [Dallas], and the ADW [Application Development Workbench] from KnowledgeWare Inc., [Atlanta]," said Ty Giltinan, senior consultant for Seca Inc., a Blue Bell, Pa., consultancy.

Adrian Bowles, managing director of Atelier Research, a Westport, Conn.-based object technology consultancy, agreed with Giltinan about the importance of automation tools. "Automation support is an important factor in the selection of a methodology," he said.

Chonoles of Martin Marietta's ACC added, "Tool support is essential to a methodology. Before automation tools existed, analysts read the books and chose a methodology. Now the methodology and the tool are becoming one decision."

LEADING THE WAY

Of the object methodologies available, some have risen to the top of the pile. "By number of sites, Shaler/Mellor, Booch and Rumbaugh are the leading [object] methodologies," said Atelier Research's Bowles. "For commercial application development, Martin/Odell's object-oriented Information Engineering [OOIE methodology] will be popular because of its similarity in notation to the conventional Information Engineering methodology."

In addition, he said, Ivar Jacobson's Objectory methodology "is a wild card because it provides coverage for more of the development life cycle than other object methodologies. Objectory will be very attractive to organizations that have succeeded with I-Case."

David Sharon, president of Case Associates, a Clackamas, Ore.-based consulting firm, added his own assessment of leading methodologies. "The Rumbaugh and Shaler/Mellor [methodologies] are in a class by themselves. Booch is a little behind," he said.

Atelier Research's Bowles offered some criteria for differentiating between object methodologies. "Object methodologies can be differentiated by whether they're purely object-oriented or are hybrids of object technology and conventional technology. Hybrids offer the perception of ease of transition. Pure object methodologies begin and end with objects. They're based on class structures and behavior.