Graph-based tools for distributed cooperation in dynamic development processes

Abstract

The highly dynamic character of development processes makes it a challenging task to provide support for the management of such processes within an organization. The process management system AHEAD addresses the specific problems related to the management of development processes in engineering disciplines. The system stores all management data as graphs. The application logic is specified in a formal specification based on a programmed graph rewriting system. From this specification several management tools of the AHEAD system are generated. Recently, the AHEAD system has been extended to support distributed development processes. Two or more organizations use their own instances of AHEAD and these instances are coupled at run-time. The coupling logic is specified by graph transformations and the executable code for the coupling can be automatically generated from this specification. Furthermore, the precise notation of the coupling by a formal specification makes it easy to enhance or extend the coupling mechanism. This paper describes how graph transformations are used to realize the demanded functionality. © Springer-Verlag 2004.