Knowledge-based support for embedded computer software analysis and design: Dissertation

This thesis describes the design and implementation of a knowledge-based support system for embedded computer software analysis and design, Prospex.A review of knowledge-based software development is presented.The Prospex system supports Yourdon's Real-Time Structured Analysis and Design (RTSA/SD) methodology.The focus of the research was to acquire, refine and represent the knowledge about the methodology.This knowledge was used in a prototype to demonstrate intelligent assistance during the process of creating and editing the RT-SA/SD model as well as analyzing the resulting documents.The aim of Prospex is not only to provide graphic support for drawing but also to help the engineer in the analysis and design process itself.Prospex was developed using the KEE expert system development environment on a Symbolics AI- workstation.It consists of three main parts: an intelligent model editor for creating RT-SA/SD documents, an RT-SA/SD primitive knowledge-base for building an internal frame-based logical model of the RT-SA/SD diagrams and a methodology rule base for analyzing the quality of the design.