Our overall goal is to commercialize the distributed computing design system (DCDS) methodology (previously developed by TRW for the U.S. army bmdatc). DCDS supersedes current methods with requirements-to-code support for real time distributed systems. The system description database (SDD) implements an underlying representation based on element relationship attribute and graph model of computation principles. Our phase I objectives focus on the prototype development of a SDD database which contains the composition of system and software elements, their relationships, and attributes (such as UDF coversheet, software module metrics, input/output definitions, tractability pointers, etc.). Internal data structures provide representations that permit generation of Gane & Sarson, Yourdon, state transition, n-squared, and hierarchy chart diagrams. SDD support systems and software engineering by providing: computer software configuration item (CSCI) documentation, change tracking mechanisms embedded in the data structures, maintenance of source requirements, and support for the five interlocking specification languages comprising the DCDS methodology.
