Providing early feedback in the development cycle through automated application of model checking to software architectures

Abstract

The benefits of evaluating properties of software architectures stem from two important software architecture roles: (1) providing an opportunity to evaluate requirements and correct defects prior to implementation; and (2) serving as a blueprint for system developers. The paper focuses on a new software architecture evaluation tool called Architecture Analysis Dynamic Environment (Arcade) that uses model checking to provide software architecture safety and liveness evaluation during the requirements gathering and analysis phase. Model checking requires expertise not typically held by systems analysts and software developers. Thus, two barriers to applying model checking must be addressed: (1) translation of the software architecture specification to a form suitable for model checking, and (2) interpretation of the results of model checking. Arcade provides an automated approach to these barriers, allowing model checking of software architectures to be added to the list of techniques available to software analysts and developers focusing on requirements gathering and analysis.