A predominant obstacle of model based software development – is communication
Karsten Holm,
Head of Consultancy Division, Soft Design A/S
The challenge – the human aspect
• Generating code and applications from models leaving all the artifacts of the machine language to the machines is daily life to me. We model databases. We model screens.
We model code structures, and we populate the structures with logic.
• The challenge is understanding the customer needs, documenting these, fixating these in time, and securing that the customer knows what we are doing and what he gets as the final product.
The challenge – the human aspect
• How do we communicate our model to the originator of the problem/project? This is a vital point. Without
communication we can not have our model validated nor extended by the information we might have missed but is clearly seen by the business stakeholders.
Biography
Karsten Holm
– Bch. Sc. EE
– Head of department at Soft Design A/S
• Soft Design
• Bonnier Publications
• Zürich Financial Services / Center of Excellence Copenhagen
• Soft Design
Soft Design A/S
• Founded 1985.
• Vision of using CASE to create unique competitive software solutions.
• Specifically the CASE tool 2E from Synon - one of the founders, John Leadbetter, found the tool unique and with a huge future potential.
• Slow but steady growth - Today staff of 40+
In traditional approaches, 80% of the time is
dedicated to the infrastructure of the application and 20% only to its business dimension (Source:
IDC)
The history of 2E and Plex
• Started in 1984 with Synon/2E- a tool dedicated to IBM System 38.
• 1987 Synon/2E was launched with the IBM AS/400
platform generating Cobol and/or RPG source and DDS for the database objects.
• 1993 the 2E successor was released as Obsydian.
• 1998 the tools were acquired by Sterling Software and renamed COOL:2E / COOL:Plex.
• 2000 Sterling was acquired by Computer Associates, CA and the products were renamed CA2E and CA Plex.
Our contribution: Websydian
• 1998 Soft Design release the first version of Websydian, adding a runtime element, patterns and abstracts to the Plex product allowing it to define the client as a browser using HTML.
• A WML version was also included allowing the development of WAP applications.
• Patterns for SOAP, XML are also offered.
• Latest we have released patterns and objects for the development of RIA applications based on the script libraries of Sencha (Ext JS).
First assumption
Originally we believed model based development was a key selling point.
We did so for 10 to 15 years.
When selling cars, carbon fiber, aluminum and high tech materials are busswords and good selling points.
When developing software, ARAD and model based development are NOT. We are the few believers My point is:
Model based development will not have a major
breakthrough in main stream industry before we have convinced opinion makers of its value.
Local customers - Solutions
International – Tools (Websydian)
America
ADA County AFG
Angel Works Enterprises Caraustar
Computer Arts, Inc.
Conn's Appliances, Inc County of NY
CSC
Data Specialists Datamatics Extol Group Inc.
First Data Corp.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Gulfstream Aerospace Hubbell Power Systems IBM Global Services Interamericana Knovalent
Lincoln Investment Planning Louisiana-Pacific Corporation Marianas Information Technology Corporation
McLanes Advanced Technologies Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Mennonite Mutual Aid
North American Stainless Patient Focus Systems ReadyPac Produce RFID
Silocaf of New Orleans State of Illinois Capital
Development Board Texas A & M University United Heritage Mutual Life Austria
Birner
Hannover Insurance NIIT Technologies Silhouette Belgium
IBS Bermuda
BF&M Insurance Group Canada
Royal Bank of Canada Winnipeg Transit
Chile
Distribucion Y Servicios Mutual de Seguros de Chile Croatia
DUKAT Denmark
Bonnier Magazine Data A/S FDC
De forende Dampvaskerier A/S Dana
Dania Trucking A/S (Mærsk) Danpot A/S
Dansikring A/S Dansk Shell A/S DHL
Euler Hermes KODA Kommunekemi
Lærerstandens Brandforsikring Nomeco
Nordfrim Novasol Sanistål Ecuador
Diners
Seguros Equinoccial Finland
Iptor Oy
NCC Rakennus OY OY Karl Fazer Yrittäjäin ATK palvelu France
Alain Manoukian
BCBG Max Azria Group Inc.
Gessi/Gecina IN Concept
Le Club Createurs De Beaute Peugeot - Sofira
Prudence Creole Germany
All About Software Gmbh Carat
Chrysler
Euronics Deutschland eG Harry Brot
NBV UGA NIIT Technologies
Praktiker
Straton IT-Consulting T-Systems
Hong Kong
Chinese Estate Limited Iceland
Vigor India
NIIT Technologies Israel
Maccabi Healthcare Services Italy
Bennet SPA
COMUNE DI BAGNO A RIPOLI Mondo Software
Licosa
Nova System Engineering Isle of Reunion
Foucque Jamaica
Computer Infinity Japan
BCC HI Technology Takaya Corp.
Mexico
AMUCSS IDEE New Zealand
ISA
MCK Metals Pacific Netherlands
Alcredis
Docra Management & Agency Dutch Missing Persons Web Site Koninklijke Gazelle BV
LeasePlan (NL) Synobsys
Vereniging Kamers van Koophandel Norway
Apollo Oslo Forsikring TONO Poland
Bank Zachodni WBK Softbank
Portugal
Maeil Consultores Puerto Rico
Efco Slovenia
ZRC d.d. Trbovlje South Africa
Axiom
Columbus Stainless SPAR
Spain
APEMSA Sweden
Agria Aller
Datakonkret AB Iptor Konsult Kappa Kraftliner AB KP Pension Resurs Bank Stim Sydved Switzerland
ANTARES Informatik AG CM First AG
Delta Logic AG Electrolux F+L/ASC
Hapimag Verwaltungs-und Vertriebsgesellschaft HAVAG AG Karger
NIIT Technologies PanGas
United Kingdom
Anglia Regional CO-OP Soc Domestic & General Flying Start Computing Mortgage Trust Paragon Group
Platform Home Loans limited PricewaterhouseCoopers UK Saga Holding Limited Salvesen Logistics Suttons
Touchstone Housing Association Zurich Financial
Applications
Sanistål - webshop
• 175,000 Items
• > 100,000 Items on stock
• 20,000 recurrent customers
Lærestandens Brandforsikring
• 2,000 millions DKR premium
• 800,000 policies
Until model based development becomes a ”buzzword”
We will stick to ”What we deliver”
- leave the ”How” until asked.
The second assumption
Business analysts, accountants, test and conformity staff…
• We did ER-Diagrams.
• We did Data Flow Diagrams.
• We did Web Flow Diagrams.
They did not “get it”
– and they reverted to the text processing adding even more text to make sure we understood.
The specifications
For many end-users the GUI is the application!
Use cases often describe the how not the what.
Daily rules are described – exceptions come after testing.
Tests are targeting weaknesses of the current system, not validating concepts and foundation of the new system
Word and Excel persist.
Third assumption – the professionals
Motivation factors
• Modern tools
• Multi layer
• Multi platform
• Current technologies; HTML, XML, SOA, etc.
• Less manual code
• More ’business’, less ’binaries’
Polarized community
Many opponents
• Closed and proprietary
• Inefficient code
• Impossible to maintain
• Generators do not work
Ekkard Kindler was interviewed to Version/2 and received 40+ responses. They were not actually pro.
We need good PR !
Our own medicine
Webshops and self-service solutions connect our customers, clients and members to our applications.
The cloud forces us take the same medicine because now our applications are no longer locally hosted and
controlled.
There are differences but the big picture remains unchanged.
The Cloud
Trend
• Local development and execution:
Requirements -> Software / Service windows
• IaaS, Hosting: Maintained environment
• PaaS, Platform as a Service
• SaaS, Software as a Service
Requirements > Solutions architecture > Identify provider(s) SLA Service Level Agreement
• Personalized Software as a Service
Integration
1970 – ’80
Local isolated systems, custom-written for the business
1990 - 2000
On platform integration
Cross platform integration (EDIFACT (’96), XML )
2000 – 2010
Standardization and consolidation on application level (e.g. SAP)
Today Cloud!
Replication of data (e.g. LDAP), Federation (trusted partners)
Integration
No matter what you model, you need to interact with other systems.
An easy way of publishing services is required.
An easy way of consuming services from others is required.
Let’s get the message out there
