The ECORP approach to Petri net tool evaluation

ECORP is a comprehensive approach for evaluating Petri net (PN) tools, i.e. CASE tools based on the PN formalism. Technical, managerial, and usage issues are addressed by way of an evaluation questionnaire defined by an extensive list of fine grained yes/no questions together with comment fields. In addition, we have defined two `canonical´ examples based on previous project experience at CRIM, related to the formal modelling and analysis of business organisations and of computerized control for rail transport. Only by implementing the very same examples using the various tools, does it becomes possible to compare them in a sufficiently detailed way to make their strengths and weaknesses apparent. By way of conclusion, we suggest guidelines suitable for choosing from among the various tools available according to the nature of the application at hand