Design of a persistence server for the relational hypergraph model

Abstract

The fundamental purpose of this research is to develop an automated software evolution tool, CASES, for large and complex systems. CASES (Computer- Aided Software Evolution System) is based on the Relational Hypergraph model that is a formal model for describing software evolution processes. This model provides the preliminary mathematical definitions to support the development of CASES. There are five basic functions related to software evolution steps: step refinement, project evaluation, constraint management, personnel management, and step management. There are also five functions related to software evolution components: component management, component traceability, version control and configuration management, dependency management, and inference rule management. CASES is implemented by using Java JDK 1.1.7 and Swing 1.0.3 under the Visual Cafe version 3.0 environment. The primary contributions of this research include: (1) Providing an automated tool for software evolution; (2) Validating a software evolution model, the RH model; (3) Allowing reuse of software evolution components; (4) Describing the software evolution processes; (5) Automating the version control of software evolution objects; (6) Tracing the software evolution activities; and (7) Managing and controlling job scheduling and assignment.