Modeling and enacting software processes: an analysis

Previous studies have led to a better understanding of the nature, the characteristics, and the implications of software process modeling and enacting. The authors attempt to reap the benefits of this better understanding, through an analysis of what should be a complete assisted development, in order to deduce a rich set of requirements and facilities for software process modeling and enacting, and to highlight and discuss some essential issues for the improvement of present proposals in the field of model driven IPSEs (integrated project support environments). Three well-known prototypes of assisted environments are examined: TRIAD/CML for the imperative approach, Marvel for the rule-based approach, and IPSE 2.5 for the object-oriented approach. Finally, the authors emphasize essential issues for future third-generation IPSEs: these new IPSEs must be real IPSEs, they must provide multiform assistance and cope with different kinds of processes including complex ones, and they must take into account dynamic evolution of software process models