TY - BOOK
T1 - Quality-driven architecture design and quality analysis method
T2 - A revolutionary initiation approach to a product line architecture
AU - Matinlassi, Mari
AU - Niemelä, Eila
AU - Dobrica, Liliana
N1 - Project code: E1SU00054
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - The role of software architecture has changed. The use of
modern software technologies and practices enables
turning the focus of system development to the quality
aspects of software instead of functional properties.
Architecture addresses the quality issues of software
and, therefore, it must be developed and documented
properly. In particular, there is a need for high level
architectural descriptions. The top down nature of
software architecture design induces this need.
In this report we introduce a quality-driven architecture
design and analysis (QADA) method. Quality-driven is
about utilizing architectural styles and patterns as a
means of designing high-quality architectures. QADA takes
a revolutionary approach to the initiation process of a
new product line. That is, the development of a complete
product-line architecture and a set of components before
developing the first product in a new domain. QADA
considers architecture on two levels of abstraction:
conceptual and concrete. Design produces architectural
descriptions at both abstraction levels from three
viewpoints: structural, behavior and deployment. The
structural viewpoint is concerned with composition of
software components, whereas the behavior viewpoint takes
the behavioral architecture aspects under consideration.
The deployment viewpoint refers to embedding and
allocation of software components to various computing
environments. Quality of architecture on both levels of
abstraction is analyzed in the corresponding analysis
phases.
Because software architectural design is difficult to
discuss merely at an abstract level, the QADA method is
tested with a case study of a distributed service
platform. The platform embodies a layered service
architecture, thereby providing a variety of services for
its users. The upper layer of services, i.e. the system
services of the platform is mobile, enabling spontaneous
networking.
AB - The role of software architecture has changed. The use of
modern software technologies and practices enables
turning the focus of system development to the quality
aspects of software instead of functional properties.
Architecture addresses the quality issues of software
and, therefore, it must be developed and documented
properly. In particular, there is a need for high level
architectural descriptions. The top down nature of
software architecture design induces this need.
In this report we introduce a quality-driven architecture
design and analysis (QADA) method. Quality-driven is
about utilizing architectural styles and patterns as a
means of designing high-quality architectures. QADA takes
a revolutionary approach to the initiation process of a
new product line. That is, the development of a complete
product-line architecture and a set of components before
developing the first product in a new domain. QADA
considers architecture on two levels of abstraction:
conceptual and concrete. Design produces architectural
descriptions at both abstraction levels from three
viewpoints: structural, behavior and deployment. The
structural viewpoint is concerned with composition of
software components, whereas the behavior viewpoint takes
the behavioral architecture aspects under consideration.
The deployment viewpoint refers to embedding and
allocation of software components to various computing
environments. Quality of architecture on both levels of
abstraction is analyzed in the corresponding analysis
phases.
Because software architectural design is difficult to
discuss merely at an abstract level, the QADA method is
tested with a case study of a distributed service
platform. The platform embodies a layered service
architecture, thereby providing a variety of services for
its users. The upper layer of services, i.e. the system
services of the platform is mobile, enabling spontaneous
networking.
KW - software product line
KW - architecture design and analysis methods
KW - quality attributes
KW - service architecture
KW - software architecture
KW - QADA
M3 - Report
SN - 951-38-5967-3
T3 - VTT Publications
BT - Quality-driven architecture design and quality analysis method
PB - VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
CY - Espoo
ER -