Toward objective, systematic design-method comparisons

Software design methodologies (SDMs) suggest ways to improve productivity and quality. They are collections of complementary design methods and rules for applying them. A base framework and modeling formalism to help designers compare SDMs and define what design issues different SDMs address, which of their components address similar design issues, and ways to integrate the best characteristics of each to make a cleaner, more comprehensive and flexible SDM are presented. The use of formalism and framework and the evaluation of objectivity and completeness using the type and function frameworks are described.<>