The ATAM method

The ATAM method (1/2) Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method Requirements for complex software systems Modifiability Performance Security Interoperability Portability Reliability How to make sure our system implements these quality attributes?

The ATAM method (2/2) Method for evaluating software architectures relative to quality attribute goals Reveals architectural risks Consists of nine steps in four groups: –Presentation of system –Analysis addressing key quality attribute requirements –Testing involving important stakeholders –Reporting

Why ATAM? Motivation –Clarified quality attribute requirements –Improved architecture documentation –Risk identification Not ARID (Active Reviews for Intermediate Designs) because –Risks hard to identify when nothing implemented yet –Would have meant redundant extra work

Gencode and ATAM Chief architect, project manager and software engineers arrange a meeting The meeting will follow the steps of ATAM (presented in the following) Schedule –First meeting after the first implementation phase Assessment of architecture in its first implementation phase Report deficiencies, make plan on how to change these –Follow-up meeting after second implementation phase Assessment of situation against the findings from first meeting

1. Presentation of system Present the ATAM (1st meeting) –Elina Present business drivers –Client (Kari) makes an update on which business goals are motivating the development –What are the primary architectural drivers (e.g. some system component, security, speed etc.) Present architecture –Chief architect (Petri) presents current state

2. Analysis Identify architectural approaches Generate quality attribute utility tree –Elicitation of quality factors –Present scenarios Analyze architectural approaches against quality attributes

3. Testing Brainstorm and prioritize scenarios Analyze architectural approaches –Highly ranked scenarios from step 6 become test cases –Analysis may uncover additional architectural approaches and risks –Documentation

4. Reporting Presentation of results Documentation