Distributed concurrent development of software systems: an object-oriented process model

The author proposes a development process model: distributed concurrent development. The model has originated from various experiences in the development of large-scale switching software systems. Critical issues in the distributed concurrent development are discussed based on a process programming concept: observations on analogies between the modeling of distributed concurrent development and the disciplines of distributed concurrent software systems. A formalization of software development processes with an object-oriented approach is then proposed. Two process description languages and two behavior description languages are proposed which make it possible to represent the structure and dynamic behavior of development processes, respectively. The author also proposes a process-design process which is unique in that one can design and evaluate a development process before one initiates development activities. The entire process for developing a family of switching software systems has been defined with the description languages.<>