This thesis presents an automated software design synthesis framework known as Project Calliope. This framework aligns with Harel's automated software development process as it addresses the aspect of automating design and implementation. Project Calliope is based on a Statecharts synthesis approach in the literature. The main goal of Project Calliope is to automatically generate testable Unified Modeling Language (UML) Statecharts that are deterministic, visually manageable and UML compliant. In order to minimise design errors in the generated UML Statecharts, Project Calliope supports model checking through Statecharts execution. In addition, executable code is automatically generated based on the synthesised UML Statecharts. This framework seeks to provide a pragmatic design framework that can be readily incorporated into software development methodologies that leverage UML. In this thesis, Project Calliope is applied to three simple applications from Whittle and Schumann's examples and a case study based on a commercial application. They are automatic teller machine, coffee dispenser, an agent application, and a groupware application respectively.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The visual landscape is a resource that should be managed sustainably. Sufficient tools for the effective management of visual landscapes are still lacking. Existing visualization software (including 3D Analyst) could be utilized as an aid in visual landscape management, but as such it lacks quantification functionalities. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) could effectively be used in the quantification of visual landscapes. The composition, value and experience of visual landscapes are complex and interrelated. Visual landscapes should be divided into physical and cognitive elements for management purposes. In the quantification of visual landscapes, the physical elements are effectively handled within a GIS. Insufficient research though, hampers the quantification of the visual landscape in terms of cognitive elements. Arc View GIS, including the 3D Analyst Extension, can be extended to quantify visual landscapes. Arc View's integrated development language, Avenue, was used to develop a new technique, namely The Visual Landscape Quantifier (VLQ). The VLQ-technique is an application based on a virtual landscape where a user can select observation and target locations. These locations are used to quantify the visual landscape in a chosen direction. Results are expressed as the percentage (%) of the visible land use in the selected visual landscape. The user can choose whether the results should be displayed as a list or as a graph. Wanted and unwanted elements in the landscape could be identified, aiding the management and planning of landscapes. Keywords: Visual landscape, landscape, Visual Landscape Quantifier, visualization, Arc View GIS, Avenue, Object Oriented Programming, 3D Analyst. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die visuele landskap is 'n hulpbron wat volhoubaar bestuur moet word, maar ongelukkig bestaan daar mm instrumente om dit effektief te bestuur. Bestaande visualiseringsprogrammatuur (insluitend Arc View 3D Analyst) kan as hulpmiddel dien in die bestuur van visuele landskappe, maar dit ontbreek kwantifiseringsfunksionaliteite. Geografiese Inligtingstelsels (GIS) kan effektief aangewend word in die kwantifisering van visuele landskappe. Die samestelling, waarde en hoe visuele landskappe ervaar word, is kompleks en interverwant. Om visuele landskappe meetbaar te maak, moet dit in fisiese en kognitiewe elemente opgebreek word. GIS hanteer die fisiese elemente van visuele landskappe effektief en gevolglik is die kwantifisering daarvan (in GIS) wel moontlik. Onvoldoende navorsing maak die kwantifisering van visuele landskappe, in terme van kognitiewe elemente, egter moeilik. ArcView GIS, insluitend die 3D Analyst-uitbreiding, kan aangepas word om visuele landskappe te kwantifiseer. 'n Nuwe tegniek, die Visual Landscape Quantifier (VLQ), is met ArcView se geïntegreerde programmeertaal, Avenue, ontwikkel. Die VLQ-tegniek berus op 'n virtuele landskap waarbinne die gebruiker toegelaat word om waarnemers- en teikenliggings te selekteer. As toepassing word die visuele landskap in die gekose rigting in terme van die persentasie (%) van sigbare grondgebruik in die geselekteerde landskap gekwantifiseer. Die gebruiker kan kies of die resultaat as 'n lys of as 'n grafiek voorgestel moet word. Moontlike gewenste of ongewenste elemente in die visuele landskap kan gevolglik geïdentifiseer word en so die bestuurs- en beplanningstaak ondersteun. Sleutelwoorde: Visuele landskap, landskap, Visual Landscape Quantifier, visualisering, ArcView GIS, Avenue, 3D Analyst, Object Oriented Programmering.

This dissertation investigates current trends concerning exceptions. Exceptions influence the reliability of software systems. In order to develop software systems that are most robust, thus delivering higher availability at a lower development and operating cost, the occurence of exceptions needs to be reduced and the effects of the exceptions controlled. In order to do this, issues such as detection, identification, classification, propagation, handling, language implementation, software testing and reporting of exceptions must be attended to. Although some of these areas are well researched there are remaining problems. The quest is to establish if a unified exception-handling framework is possible and viable, which can address the issues and problems throughout the software development life cycle, and if so, the requirements for such a framework. / Computing / M.Sc. (Information Systems)

Formal methods have been shown to be beneficial in increasing the quality of, and confidence in software systems. Despite the advantages of using formal methods in software development, the uptake in the commercial industry has been limited where the use of informal and semi-formal notations is favoured. To bridge the gap between the ease-of-use of semi-formal notation and correctness of formal methods, a number of approaches to the formalisation of informal and semi-formal notation have been researched and documented. Two of these approaches are discussed in this dissertation using a medium-sized case study to demonstrate the approaches. It was shown that each approach offered results that differed in terms of levels of abstraction, requisite knowledge of the formal target specification language and potential for automation. / Information Science / M.Sc.(Information Systems)

Personal Software Process (PSP) Scriber is a Web-based software engineering tool designed to implement an automatic system for performing PSP. The basis of this strategy is a set of tools to facilitate collection and analysis of development data. By analyzing the collected data, the developer can make informed, accurate decisions about their individual development effort.

The Prescription Express System is a software program that was developed with express service of health care in mind. The purpose was to provide easy access for doctors to check on upcoming appointments with patients and send prescriptions via wireless network directly to the pharmacy to provide faster service.

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No description available.

The Unified Modeling Language (UML) became part of the curriculum in the Department of Computer Science at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in September 1997. The intent was to integrate the object-oriented paradigm in the undergraduate courses. Subsequently, this use has shifted to the graduate level. The purpose of this thesis is: 1) to determine what the students know about UML, 2) to reveal if the students were using UML, 3) to clarify how students use the UML.

This study investigated the use of ORM as a conceptual modelling technique by using the UML domain model class diagram as benchmark. The rationale was that if the ORM-class diagram compared favourably with the benchmark, then ORM could be proposed as an alternate conceptual modelling technique. Proponents of ORM suggest that it has significant advantages over other techniques for conceptual modelling. The benchmark UML class diagram was developed according to the Unified Process through use-cases and collaboration diagrams. The ORM-class diagram was derived using the Conceptual Schema Design Process and ORM-UML Mapping Process. The evaluation of the two class diagrams was conducted by means of a questionnaire, based on a set of principles for conceptual models. The study concluded that ORM could not be proposed as a conceptual modelling technique up to the UML domain class diagram level without considering additional techniques for capturing the dynamics of the system. / Computer Science / M.Sc. (Computer Science)