Software Architecture Reconstruction Method, a Survey

Architecture reconstruction belongs to a reverse engineering process, in which we move from code to architecture level for reconstructing architecture. Software architectures are the blue prints of projects which depict the external overview of the software system. Mostly maintenance and testing cause the software to deviate from its original architecture, because sometimes for enhancing the functionality of a system the software deviates from its documented specifications, some new modules are included in the system without modifying the architecture of a system which create issues while reconstructing the system, as much as the software is closed to the architecture the more it is easy to maintain and change the document so the conformance of architecture with the product is checked by applying the reverse engineering method. Another reason for reconstructing the architecture is observed in the case of legacy systems, when they need modification or an enhanced version of the system is needed to be developed. This paper includes the methods and tools involved in reconstructing the architecture and by comparing them the best method for reconstructing architecture will be suggested. Keywords—Software architecture; reverse engineering; architecture reconstruction; architecture erosion; architecture mismatch; architecture chasm; architecture drift; forward engineering; architectural aging