Our research focuses on improving software quality, flexibility, reliability, interoperability, and integration through computer aided software engineering. A current focus is on architectures that support multiple configurations, methods of certifying dependability requirements that apply to all configurations, and methods for reducing testing required for reusable components. We are developing models of engineering issues and methods to formalize and automate analysis and synthesis subtasks. To improve software quality and flexibility while reducing cost, we seek to improve technology for software generators: automatic program generation to reduce labor and random errors and computer-aided analysis of generation rules to enable systematic and non-decreasing quality improvement. Our scope includes methods for testing and verifying flexible architectures and improved models for software generation, document transformation, lightweight inference, and analysis and transformation techniques for the generation rules. Applications include a “software wrapper and glue” architecture that supports computer-aided connection and integration of legacy software systems, as well as prototyping of distributed systems. Issues include data modeling and adaptation to different contexts, to enable moving data with the same meaning between systems with different data representations and possibly different subclass refinements. Computer-aided software maintenance is a related focus. Specific directions include design recovery and transformations, compatibility checking, slicing, view fusion, and change merging.

 

References

Qiao C, et al: International Journal of Computers and their Applications 13(1): 28, 2006

Berzins VA, et al: Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Research Symposium–Acquisition Research Creating Synergy for Informed Change 385: Monterey (CA): May 11-13, 2010

 

key words

Testing and verification; Software flexibility; System dependability; Cost reduction; Reconfigurable architectures; Requirements; Standards; Automated testing; Software generation; Reliable software evolution; Adaptive systems;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants