A Logic-Based Framework for Reasoning Support in Software Evolution

Software development has been acknowledged as a complicated problem-solving activity done in a complex, multi-dimensional space. People actively involved in software development need support in understanding and documenting not only the description of the software developed, but also the problem domain and the reasons behind decisions taken during evolution. Development methods do not provide such support, and researchers begin to explore the recording of reasoning in specific phases of software evolution. Several data models have been presented, aiming to support developers by maintaining a repository of deliberation elements of decisions taken during development; these models are usually supported by a special CASE tool that can be classified as a Software decision management system. Using experience gained in the development of large-scale applications in an industrial environment, and experimenting with prototype software design decision management systems, we introduce PROFILE, a conceptual logic-based meta-model that integrates software evolution process modelling with deliberation representation and decision factors. PROFILE enhances existing models by providing support throughout the whole software evolution, by capturing assumptions as real-world reasoning elements, and by maintaining a Knowledge Base of decision-making factors. A prototype Software Evolution Decision Support System based on an instance of PROFILE is also presented in this paper.