Object-oriented design

About: Object-oriented design is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5136 publications have been published within this topic receiving 144108 citations.

An Incremental Class Reorganization Approach

Abstract: Software components developed with an object-oriented language require frequent reorganizations before they become stable, reusable classes. We propose a new algorithm that analyses the redefinitions carried out on inherited properties when a class is added to a hierarchy, and restructures the hierarchy to discover missing abstractions and to enforce programming style guidelines. We illustrate our automatic restructuring approach with simple examples, describe formally the algorithm and the object model it is based on, and discuss its suitability for object-oriented software engineering. The results of applying the algorithm to the Eiffel library are examined.

Method, data structure, and computer program product for object state storage in a repository

Abstract: In an interface-based binary object system capable of supporting multiple interfaces into objects created by class templates, a repository of stored object states is formed that can be accessed by later created objects. Such later created objects may be of the same class as the original object or may be of a new class extended from the original class and still use the same stored object state. Access to the stored object state is made through a generic repository object that emulates the behavior of a particular class of object as defined in type definitions. Requests to a particular object's properties through interface methods are serviced by having the generic repository object make reference to the type definitions in order to fulfill the request. Binary extensibility of the generic repository object along with proper class definition in the type definitions allows custom objects having greater functionality than that provided by the generic repository object to be implemented. Furthermore, class definitions that use only functionality provided by the generic repository object may be defined so as to allow instantiation of objects without the implementation of actual software code whatsoever. Finally, in a currently preferred embodiment, object state is stored advantageously in SQL database tables organized on a per-interface basis with properties common to all objects stored in a main stored object state table.

An object-oriented multimedia database system for a news-on-demand application

Abstract: We describe the design of a multimedia database management system for a distributed news-on-demand multimedia information system. News-on-demand is an application that uses broadband network services to deliver news articles to subscribers in the form of multimedia documents. Different news providers insert articles into the database, which are then accessed by users remotely, over a broadband, asynchronous transfer-mode (ATM) network. The particulars of our design are an object-oriented approach and strict adherence to international standards, in particular the Standard Generalized Mark-up Language (SGML) and Hy-Time. The multimedia database system has a visual query facility, which is also described in this paper. The visual query interface provides three major facilities for end users: presentation, navigation, and querying of multimedia news documents. The main focus, however, is the querying of multimedia objects stored in the database.

A Comprehensive Investigation of Quality Factors in Object-Oriented Designs: an Industrial Case Study

Abstract: This paper aims at empirically exploring the relationships between most of the existing design coupling, cohesion, and inheritance measures for object-oriented (OO) systems, and the fault-proneness of OO system classes. The underlying goal of this study is to better understand the relationship between existing design measurement in OO systems and the quality of the software developed. In addition, we aim at assessing whether such relationships, once modeled, can be used to effectively drive and focus inspections or testing. The study described here is a replication of an analogous study conducted in a university environment with systems developed by students. In order to draw more general conclusions and to (dis)confirm the results obtained there, we now replicated the study using data collected on an industrial system developed by professionals. Results show that many of our findings are consistent across systems, despite the very disparate nature of the systems under study. Some of the strong dimensions captured by the measures in each data set are visible in both the university and industrial case study. For example, the frequency of method invocations appears to be the main driving factor of fault-proneness in all systems. However, there are also differences across studies, which illustrate the fact that, although many principles and techniques can be reused, quality does not follow universal laws and quality models must be developed locally, wherever needed.

Roles for composite objects in object-oriented analysis and design

Abstract: A method is presented for using composite objects which separates their role and meaning as models of relations between problem-domain concepts from their role and meaning as models of hierarchical sof’twarc structures. The meaning of composite objects is analysed in terms of connections bctwccn real-world concepts in object-oriented analysis and bctwccn software objects in object-oriented design. By capturing the designer’s rationale for model transformation, the resulting models arc casicr to understand and maintain. An embedded systems example illustrates the approach.