Formal Definition of Metrics Upon the CORBA Component Model

Objective: Formalization of metrics definitions to assess CORBA component assemblies’ quality attributes. Method: Representation of a component assembly as an instantiation of the CORBA Component Model metamodel. The resulting meta-object diagram can then be traversed using Object Constraint Language clauses. These clauses are a formal and executable definition of the metrics that can be used to assess quality attributes from the assembly and its constituent components. Results: Demonstration of the expressiveness of our technique by formally defining metrics proposed informally by several authors on different aspects of components’ and assemblies’ quality attributes. Conclusion: Providing a formal and executable definition of metrics for CORBA component assemblies is an enabling precondition to allow for independent scrutiny of such metrics which is, in turn, essential to increase practitioners confidence on predictable quality attributes.