Mourad Bouneffa

Analysis and manipulation of distributed multi-language software code

The authors propose a formal model and a platform to deal with distributed multi-language software analysis. These provide a graph representation of the software codes (source codes and byte-codes), a change propagation process based on graph rewriting, and an automatic profiling tool to measure the contribution of any component to the global performance of the software. The program codes are structured by a multi-graph in which the nodes represent the software components linked by edges representing the meaningful relationships. The software components and their relationships are extracted from the byte-code files, using the mocha decompiler tool, and from the source codes files, using the Javacc tool. Javacc allows one to generate parsers, based on grammar specification files, which include features to produce an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) representation of the software components. Furthermore, a graph of the software components is constructed on the top of the XML files, providing program analysis. This is implemented by an integrated platform including the mocha decompiler, a multi-language parsing tool, a software change management module, and a profiling tool.

A change propagation model and platform for multi-database applications

In this paper, we propose a formal model and a platform for software change management. The model is based on graphs rewriting, and deals with both multi-language source codes and heterogeneous database schemas. These are represented by software components linked by meaningful relationships. The change impact analysis is done, using a knowledge-based system, that includes impact propagation rules preserving the software consistency. This is implemented by an integrated platform including a multilanguage parsing tool, and a soft-ware change management module.

A Change Impact Analysis Approach for CORBA-Based Federated Databases

In this paper, we propose an approach and a framework for an a priori change impact analysis of database schemas, in federated environment. The approach is based on a model, that describes program source codes and database schemas as software components linked by meaningfully relationships. This model takes into account the software components for both centralized and CORBA-based federated database applications. We deal with the federated issue, in accordance with the Object Database Management Group specifications. The change impact analysis is done, using a Knowledge Based System, that includes impact propagation rules, in a distributed way. This is achieved by proposing a framework, that implements our model, in order to simulate the evolution of CORBA-based federated database schemas.

Software evolution control towards a better identification of change impact propagation

The software evolution is often a continuous process necessary to avoid a short longevity of software use. The evolution control requires analysis to be processed respectively before and after software change implementation. First, an a priori change impact analysis is required to help decisions takers by estimation of intended impact and its propagation to other software components. Secondly, an a posteriori change analysis is destined to estimate to what extent the goals of implemented changes have been effectively reached. Both invoked analysis of change impact require an exhaustive description of individual software components as well as their various types of interdependency. In our paper, we propose an exhaustive stratified description of software components using formal modeling, aiming at providing better change impact analysis. The proposed description focuses on software elements which may play role in change impact and the propagation of its effects from directly modified component to other components of the whole software.

Analyzing the ripple effects of change in business process models

Change management is a critical task to control the side effects of a modification during the business process evolution. The evolution of business processes is an essential activity for the companies to better fulfill the requirements of their customers and different stakeholders. In this respect, the enterprises should adopt an effective mechanism in order to achieve the flexible business process models. It is important to identify and highlight the ripple effects of a change for minimizing their impact on other parts or entities of the system and associated services. This paper proposes a dependency-centric approach for change impact analysis. We attempt to demonstrate the change impact propagation in business process models by detecting and analyzing the interdependencies among all parts of business processes along with associated services. It can support the maintenance and evolution of business process models. The major objective is to help the modelers and business experts to assess the associated risk of intended changes and estimate the effort required for their accomplishments.

Towards a better control of change impact propagation

The software evolution requires an exhaustive understanding of all the artifacts or components composing the software. In fact, any intended change may generate an impact propagated to the various software components through the different kind of relationships relating them. This situation is generally called the ripple effect and may cause several types of damages or side effects. In this paper, we focus on the potential flow of change impact propagation as provoked by the carried out change. For that purpose, we propose a structural model of software evolution (SMSE). This model is intended to represent and manage the different software artifacts and their relationships. The instantiated SMSE is used to built a knowledge base system providing, among other facilities, an assistance to the designer (or engineer) of software evolution for an a priori assessment of the change impact. The major aim of the system is to help a systematic analysis of the change impact and the identification of its propagation.

On Building an Integrated and Generic Platform for Software Quality Evaluation

In this paper, we introduce an approach and tools dealing with the software quality modelling and evaluation. The approach is based on the use of both the model transformation and the machine learning. We first define a software quality ontology formalised by an UML class diagram. The ontology serves then as a quality meta-model that must be instantiated to produce quality models for specific domains or projects. The instantiation is achieved by the combination of the model transformation implemented by graph rewriting rules and the machine learning aiming at discover specific relationships relating the software quality concepts. The approach is implemented by a platform based on the use of GXL(graph exchange language) and AGG that is a graph rewriting system

The Change Impact Analysis in BPM Based Software Applications: A Graph Rewriting and Ontology Based Approach

The Business Process Models describe and formalize the operations, constraints and policies of an organization. These models have firstly been used as abstract views of all the processes implied in an organisation. These served as inputs and outputs of the business analysis and re-engineering activities with no explicit relationship with the IT infrastructures which have been implementing business processes. In this paper, we deal with the BPM as higher abstraction level artefacts of software applications implementing the organisation processes. It presents our approach dealing with the change management of such applications. The approach is based on the graph based formalisation of all the software artefacts including the BPM ones. It provides an explicit management of various relationships conducting the change impact. The change operations are then formalized by graph rewriting (or transformation) rules. These rules implement both the change and the change impact propagation. The semantic knowledge concerning the various artefacts and the change operations is represented by an ontology. This ontology is intended to be able to automatically generate some change management rules. We use graph rewriting system (AGG) as a mean to formally specify and validate the result of our approach. The resulting specifications are then implemented using an integrated software change management platform appearing as a set of the Eclipse Workbench plug-ins.

Ontology-Based Change Impact Assessment in Dynamic Business Processes

The business process models are often subjected to change rapidly in order to cope with the market demands. It may be useful for companies to adapt a monitoring mechanism to achieve flexible business process models. It is also desirable to control the ripple effects of a change on whole or part of the business process and its running instances. It requires an exhaustive understanding of concerned changes and their application levels. In this article, we propose a methodology based on dependency analysis for an a priori change impact analysis in the business process models. The approach is based on the ontology definitions to describe the dependency relationships. The major objective is to obtain a knowledge base to help the designers and business experts to estimate the associated risk of intended changes and the effort required for their implementation.

E-business: A New Challenge for Database Management Systems

Databases are the key components of the automated information systems. During the last decades, the emerging computing technologies even on the hardware or software sides led to a deep evolution of the database management systems. In this paper, we deal with the emergence of Internet based e-business and show its impact on the databases management systems. The features we deal with are the techniques providing the database and Internet integration, the impact of e-business on the DBMS engines and on the information systems architecture.