Marin Orlić

REMES tool-chain: a set of integrated tools for behavioral modeling and analysis of embedded systems

In this paper, we present a tool-chain for the REMES language, which can be used for the construction and analysis of embedded system behavioral models. The tool-chain consists of the following tools: (i) a REMES editor for modeling behaviors of embedded components, (ii) a REMES simulator to test timing and resource behavior prior to formal analysis, and (iii) an automated transformation from REMES to Priced Timed Automata, needed for formal analysis.

Avoiding scylla and charybdis in distributed software development course

Teaching Distributed Software Development (DSD) is a challenging task. A convincing simulation of distributed environment in a local environment is practically impossible. Teaching DSD in distributed environment is more realistic since the students directly experience all its specifics. However, teaching in distributed environment, in which several geographically separated teams participate, is very demanding. Different types of obstacles occur, from administrative and organizational to technical ones. This paper describes some of the challenges, lessons learned, but also success stories of the DSD course performed now eight year in a row.

Collaboration patterns in distributed software development projects

The need for educating future software engineers in the field of global software engineering is recognized by many educational institutions. In this paper we outline the characteristics of an existing global software development course run over a period of nine years, and present a flexible project framework for conducting student projects in a distributed environment. Based on data collected from fourteen distributed student projects, a set of collaboration patterns is identified and their causes and implications described. Collaboration patterns are a result of the analysis of collaboration links within distributed student teams, and can assist teachers in better understanding of the dynamics found in distributed projects.

An early comparison of commercial and open-source cloud platforms for scientific environments

Cloud computing promises efficient use of hardware resources through virtualization and elastic computing facilities. Various cloud computing solutions have emerged on the market from open-source communities and commercial vendors. In this paper we discuss criteria for feature comparison of private cloud platforms and compare several open-source and commercial products. We test performance of hypervisors used in these clouds with a set of benchmark suites containing tests for various aspects of the system. We discuss the results in the context of what is commonly described as a scientific workload. The described feature and performance differences can help make wiser platform choices.

Student motivation in distributed software development projects

In this paper we discuss challenges faced in conducting distributed student projects within a scope of a distributed software development university course. Student motivation and demotivation factors, along with perceived cultural differences, are identified and analyzed on the basis of data collected from a number of student projects.

Multi-dimensional assessment of risks in a distributed software development course

The organizational shift from local to global settings in many software development initiatives has triggered the need for entailing it when educating the future software engineers. Several educational institutions have embraced this need and started collaborating for the provision of global software engineering courses. The rather complex nature of such courses results in a wider range of risks, in comparison to standard software engineering courses, that arise in different dimensions, ranging from course-to result-related, and for different reasons. In this work we provide an assessment of such a variety of risks as well as their causes, and we give a hint on how they may affect each other based on our 10-year-long experience with a tightly integrated GSD course.

Modelling interaction scenarios in multi-agent systems

Multi-agent systems (MAS) offer to solve problems in complex system and application domains, but are also complex environments. Standardization in the area of agent communication has led to development of MAS frameworks, simplifying MAS development. Agent interactions are essential for agents to exhibit their social abilities, and interaction scenarios for commonly known, standard interaction protocols, can be seen as building blocks of successful multi-agent systems. This article presents an introduction to interaction scenario modelling and code generation techniques, allowing quick prototyping of agent interactions and creation of agents implementing scenario roles

Something old is new again: reimagining the oldest social networking platform

The phenomenon of social networking has entered the lives of millions of people via the ubiquitous Web-based platforms such as Facebook and Google+ which are centralized platforms completely controlled by single entities. However, a complete parallel message-passing infrastructure already exists and has the benefit of 30 years experience and investments: the SMTP e-mail network, which together with the latest technologies can be utilized to provide a completely decentralized, convenient, private and even fault-tolerant social networking platform. This work in progress aims to design and implement a proof of concept of such idea.

Adapting paintable architecture concepts to wireless sensor networks

Amorphous computing promises a novel approach with massively distributed systems. Research in the field hasn’t yet produced any formal methodology for design of