An approach to performance evaluation of software architectures

Abstract

ABSTRAC'IIn this puper we present an approach to evaluuting the expected pe~formante of u software architecture.The method uutomuticmlly derives a performance evaluution model, bused on N Queueing Network Model, from a .softwarearchitecture .spec@ationformally described in CHAM (CHemicwl Abstract Machine).The goal of this rrpprouch is to provide a #set of measures to compare the per+formance of two or more competing software urchitectures, even at their high level of abstraction.This rneuns thut we will be able to derive mathemutical relations crmony: the purameters---that is, the evaluution indic,c.s---churu~teri,-ing the competing models.Besides clssisting in the choice of a softwure architecture, these relations give information on how to curry on the development process in order to mantrrin the given performcrnce.To u certain extent, the relations provide filrthrr requirements to be ,fulfilled by an implementation in order to sgtisjj the chosen pe@rmance criteria.