Title
The transformation of requirements into software primitives: Studying evolvability based on systems theoretic stability
Abstract
Evolvability is widely considered to be a crucial characteristic of software architectures, particularly in the area of information systems. Although many approaches have been proposed for improving evolvability, most indications are that it remains challenging to deliver the required levels of evolvability. In this paper, we present a theoretical approach to how the concept of systems theoretic stability can be applied to the evolvability of software architectures of information systems. We define and formalize the transformation of a set of basic functional requirements into a set of instantiations of software constructs. We define this transformation using both a static and a dynamic perspective. In the latter perspective, we formulate the postulate that information systems should be stable against new requirements. Based on this postulate, we derive a number of design theorems for software implementation. Using this transformation we use theoretical arguments to derive that these theorems contribute to achieving stability.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1016/j.scico.2010.11.009
Sci. Comput. Program.
Keywords
Field
DocType
software implementation,studying evolvability,systems theoretic stability,normalized systems,theoretical argument,stability,basic functional requirement,theoretical approach,dynamic perspective,information system,software primitive,software construct,systems theory,software architecture,latter perspective,system theory,functional requirement
Information system,Functional requirement,Programming language,Systems theory,Evolvability,Computer science,Theoretical computer science,Normalized systems,Software,Software requirements specification,Software development
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
76
12
Science of Computer Programming
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
22
1.22
19
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Herwig Mannaert132032.38
Jan Verelst236833.30
Kris Ven328421.13