Utilising a Geographic Space Metaphor in a Software Development Environment

Current software systems are growing ever larger and more complex. This increase in size and complexity is of course reflected in the data produced in the development process and overviewing and navigating the structure are becoming daunting tasks. This paper presents a model for visualising many important aspects of the complex, multi-dimensional, data in a software development project. The model is based on a geographic space metaphor: Entities in the software architecture are organised geographically in what becomes a design ‘landscape’. Thereby overview and navigation is supported by tapping into humans fine spatial and visual perception. The landscape is shared in the project team, and mediates daily development activities thereby providing a common reference frame, and a framework for visualising aspects of the software. A prototype implementation of a software development environment, Ragnarok, based on this model is presented and some preliminary experiences outlined.