Development of a workbench for knowledge-based systems using the ECMA reference model for CASE frameworks

The European Computer Manufacturers Association reference model for computer assisted software engineering environments frameworks (ECMA RM) provides a description of the services which should be provided by a software engineering environments (SEEs) as well as of the relations between these services. Over the past year, the ECMA RM has become a de facto European standard reference in the field of SEEs. This paper constitutes one of the first hands-on experience-reports on the use of the ECMA RM in the design of SEEs. The ECMA RM´s salient features are discussed and evaluated on the pragmatic basis of their useability in the development of a software engineering workbench to support KBS development. Concrete proposals are then made for enhancing the useability of the RM