Objective TOOL-USE's objective was to develop techniques for the formal definition of methods used in the development of software. The project focused on one main idea, that the building of a support environment should be parameterised by methods expressed in a development language. It sought to achieve understanding and formal modelling of: -the software construction process -the application domains -target systems. The consortium intended to continue with the definition, implementation and evolution of a prototype environment for software development based on formally defined methods Techniques were developed for the formal definition of methods used in the development of software. The project focused on one main idea, that the building of a support environment should be parameterised by methods expressed in a development language. It sought to achieve understanding and formal modelling of the software construction process, the application domains, and the target systems. Starting from the requirements defined in an early stage of the project, the development language DEVA was specified and documented. A version of DEVA is available in prototype form, and tools to facilitate its use have been demonstrated. However, the specification of DEVA is not frozen, and it will be modified as and when the results of the intensive experimentation warrant it. Support tools for the prototype of a parameterised environment were demonstrated as well as the specification of a requirement requisition tool and method advisors.Methods used in the development of software were explored and formalised. Starting from the requirements defined in an early stage of the project, the DEVA development language was specified and documented. A version of DEVA is available in prototype form for internal applications for the different partners, and tools to facilitate its use have been demonstrated. However, the specification of DEVA is not frozen, and it will be modified as and when the results of the intensive experimentation, that will ensue throughout any future developments, warrant it. In the final review, the support tools for the prototype of a parameterised environment were demonstrated as well as the specification of a requirement requisition tool and method advisors. Exploitation The production of environments in a near-automatic way, parameterised by the methodology used, provides the theoretical evolutionary path from the current generation of PCTE (Portable Common Tool Environment) environments to the next one. This will ensurethe compatibility of European industrial investment in software development facilities, and will be extremely useful for setting up case-studies on the use of the development language for office systems and computer-integrated manufacturing. However, a long period of refinement is anticipated before concepts developed inside this project are ready for commercial exploitation. In the meantime, their participation has created a pool of R&D knowhow among the partners' staff. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware development Programme(s) FP1-ESPRIT 1 - European programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1984-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator CISI Ingénierie SA Address 13 rue villet 31029 Toulouse France See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GENERICS SOFTWARE LTD Ireland EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sandyford road X Dublin 16 See on map Gesellschaft für Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung mbH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Haid-und-neu-straße 7 76131 Karlsruhe See on map Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA) France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2 avenue édouard-belin 31055 Toulouse See on map UNIV CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Place ste. barbe 1348 Louvain-la-neuve See on map
