A software design and evaluation system Graham, Robert M.; Clancy, Gerald J.; DeVaney, David B.
Communications of the ACM,
02/1973, Letnik:
16, Številka:
2
Magazine Article
Odprti dostop
A critical failure of current software system design and implementation methodology is that the performance of a proposed design is not evaluated before it is actually implemented. In this paper the ...reasons for this failure are explored, and a new methodology which overcomes many of the difficulties is proposed. A system which integrates performance evaluation with design and implementation is described. This system is based on a simple, high level language which is used to describe the evolving system at all stages of its development. The source language description is used as direct input to performance analysis and simulation routines. Using the performance information obtained from these routines as feedback, the problems which adversely affect performance are detected early enough so that they can be corrected without costly major reimplementation of the proposed system.
A software design and evaluation system Graham, Robert M.; Clancy, Gerald J.; DeVaney, David B.
Proceedings of the SIGOPS workshop on System performance evaluation,
01/1971
Conference Proceeding
One of the most difficult problems facing the software designer and implementer is that of evaluating the performance of a proposed design before it is actually implemented. Pre-implementation ...evaluation is invaluable in assisting the designer to meet the specified performance objectives of the system being designed. This problem of meeting objectives is particularly severe for large multi-programmed, multi-processing operating systems. These systems have become so complex that even the most experienced system designer is unable to evaluate a system's performance using intuition alone. Use of more formal methods is required. Existing techniques are handicapped by a severe time lag. To avoid costly re-implementation, feedback must get to the designers before the design is "cast in concrete." In this paper we describe a system which provides performance information at all stages in the design and implementation of a software system (which we will call the object system). Using this feedback the designer can spot the problems which adversely affect performance early enough in the design-implementation sequence that they can be corrected without having to reimplement much of the object system.
The key idea in our design and evaluation system is to use a single language to describe the object system at all stages of its design and implementation. This evolving source language description of the object system is used as direct input to the evaluation procedures. The initial sketch of the system's structure and data bases, which is the gross design specification, evolves into a final, detailed implementation specification which can be compiled into executable object code. As soon as any part of the object system is specified some evaluation information is available. As the design becomes more detailed this information becomes more precise. Thus, a fairly detailed and precise picture of the object system's performance is developed before it is implemented.
The trend of terminated executives filing wrongful discharge lawsuits is likely to continue and involve more high-level managers. A company confronting a wrongful termination suit will probably face ...either a settlement or a jury trial. The most important strategic goal for the corporate defendant is to persuade the jury that the plaintiff was a supervisor and not a worker. The company's 2nd key strategic goal is to persuade the jury that the company behaved responsibly by warning the executive about poor performance and giving the executive an opportunity to correct it before being terminated. The need for documentation in employment litigation highlights the importance of regular written performance evaluations for all employees, including executives.
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