Synthesizing partial component-level behavior models from system specifications

Initial system specifications, such as use-case scenarios and properties, only partially specify the future system. We posit that synthesizing partial component-level behavior models from these early specifications can improve software development practices. In this paper, we provide a novel algorithm for deriving a Modal Transition System (MTS) for individual system components from systemlevel scenario and property specifications. The generated MTSs capture the possible component implementations that (1) necessarily provide the behavior required by the scenarios, (2) restrict behavior forbidden by the properties, and (3) leave the behavior that is neither explicitly required nor forbidden as undefined. We also show how our algorithm helps to discover potential design flaws. Categories and Subject Descriptors D.2 [Software Engineering]: Requirements/Specifications; D.2 [Software Engineering]: Software Architectures General Terms Algorithms Keywords behavior model synthesis, Modal Tran...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: SIGSOFT
• Authors: Ivo Krka, Yuriy Brun, George Edwards, Nenad Medvidovic
• Keywords: Algorithms Keywords Behavior, Modal Transition System, Partial Component-level Behavior, SIGSOFT 2009, Software Engineering