A distributed framework for integrated software process and deployment support

Abstract

Software development and deployment are traditionally separate non interoperating tasks, yet they concern much of the same information. We propose a modeling language for software development processes that incorporates the software artifacts being developed in the process as well as their product structure information including evolution, such as dependency, origin, version, and configuration information which is required for deployment. Based on this, we present a distributed framework, implemented in a prototype system, consisting of a process support system as a common process interoperable base for both developers and users, and separate enhancements for development and deployment. For developers, it is extended by a process definition and enactment engine as well as process-specific tools to make up a software engineering environment, allowing distributed development, configuration and release of software in globally linked processes. For users, it is extended by a deployment and runtime system that allows retrieval, installation and invocation of software, and manages user-site process bases. Developers publish parts of their development processes, and users copy linked parts of different developers’ processes containing software artifacts to their local process bases. Deployed software retains its process-awareness, allowing configurations to be checked for compatibility.