GENESIS
V - THE VERSATILE DESIGNER
Most CASE tools available today rely on a data-orientated
approach to analysis and design. Specifications about the data required to support
an application are built into the repository. These are used to draft out program
code for standard functions in some form of procedural representation such as
a 4GL or action diagrams. The programs are then evolved into their final state
by enhancing this program code via the "language" of the tool being
used.
Because GENESIS V's repository also includes the non-procedural function specifications, this methodology can be evolved even further. Instead of directly drafting out the program code, GENESIS V's Auto-Specifier drafts out the specifications of the functions. These specifications can then be evolved, if necessary, into their finished state WITHOUT FALLING BACK ON PROCEDURAL CODING TECHNIQUES.
Indeed,
changes made to an automatically specified program can be fed back into the
Auto-SPECIFIER as a "template", thus creating a brand new program
style which can be produced AUTOMATICALLY by GENESIS V.
| Prototypes can therefore be the finished article. |
However, the existence of the function specification allows GENESIS V to also support the "reverse" methodology: the function-oriented approach. This allows the system designer to evolve the main functions, the input/output and the panel designs, before the database is designed and before any fields have been defined in the data dictionary.
As
the fields are defined on the panels and the input/output is specified, GENESIS
V maintains the data dictionary and derives the files, record layouts, keys
and interfile relationships automatically. This methodology is particularly
suited to Joint Application Development sessions with the user. GENESIS V further
complements this approach by presenting a questionnaire which verifies the database
design against the business rules.
No one methodology alone is correct. Methodology must adapt to differing circumstances such as size and complexity of project, different stages of the AD/Cycle, experience of development staff, computer literacy of user staff etc.
| GENESIS V's versatile approach to methodology accepts these basic facts of life. |
Furthermore, the combination of these approaches in the same CASE tool allows the adoption of the most successful methodology of all: Incremental Prototyping.
| - in other words EVOLUTION. |
