The rube framework for software modeling and customized 3-D visualization

Presently, there is little assistance available to developers who would like to create and integrate formal software models with customized visualizations of the architecture and operation of such models. To help solve this problem, the rube framework presents methodologies and development tools for both formal software modeling and for the creation of customized, three-dimensional software model visualization. As prescribed by rube, these models are multimodels and their visualizations are based on user-specified metaphors and aesthetics. We describe rube, its goals, and present an example in the form of a simple operating system task scheduler. This example model is developed step-by-step with the rube modeling methodology and associated development tools to demonstrate the practical feasibility of integrating customized software model visualization with formal software modeling processes.