1. Artifact Traceability using XML
Chris Baker
Artifact Traceability using XML
4/23/2010

2. Agenda Traceability Problem Proposed Solution Benefits
Evolutionary Possibilities
Questions
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Chris Baker

3. Traceability Meriam-Webster definition:
“to discover by going backward over the evidence step by step”
Generally applies to requirements
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Chris Baker

4. Problem Implicit artifact dependencies Potential for miscommunication
Ripple effect of small changes
Review cost to verify consistency
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Chris Baker

5. Problem - OCD Example
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Chris Baker

6. Proposed Solution Artifact Represented in XML
“Mirror” of Table of Contents/Figures/etc
- Artifact Traceability Using XML
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Chris Baker

7. Why XML? Well known standard representing data
Large tool support and community
Human readable format
Versions may be compared
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Chris Baker

8. Mechanisms ICM artifact/XML templates provided
Project tailors XML files to fit artifacts
Ideally through a GUI
Change communication among team
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Chris Baker

9. Benefits Artifact authors better see change impacts
Reviewer can better focus time
Better package consistency
Students better visualize the ICM
Aids in research
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Chris Baker

10. Evolutionary Possibilities
Embed artifact links with XLink (or similar)
Not just for documents
Tags within source code
XML representation of UML model
Dynamic generation from an artifact
Graphical representation of dependencies
Generated UML diagram or hierarchy
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Chris Baker

11. References
Maletic, J. I., Collard, M. L., and Simoes, B An XML based approach to support the evolution of model-to-model traceability links. In Proceedings of the 3rd international Workshop on Traceability in Emerging Forms of Software Engineering (Long Beach, California, November , 2005). TEFSE '05. ACM, New York, NY,
Rönnau, S., Scheffczyk, J., and Borghoff, U. M Towards XML version control of office documents. In Proceedings of the 2005 ACM Symposium on Document Engineering (Bristol, United Kingdom, November , 2005). DocEng '05. ACM, New York, NY,
Meriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, April 21, 2010
University of Southern California, Center for Software and Systems Engineering. Incremental Commitment Model - Software: Electronic Process Guide April 2010 <
University of Southern California, Center for Software and Systems Engineering Redevelopment Commitment Review Package Evaluation. 08 March March 2010 <
DeRose, S., Maler, E., and Orchard, D. XML Linking Language (XLink) Version 1.0, W3C Recommendation 27 June April
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Chris Baker

12. Questions?
4/23/2010
Chris Baker