How to improve the Architecture of your Java-based system - in less than a day! 

Software quality depends on the architecture. We present an approach which utilizes inter-module dependencies to represent, manage and improve the Java architecture. You will learn how to create a Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM) for a highly scalable representation of your Java system and how it allows you to rapidly zero-in on unwanted dependencies that are often a result of unwanted architectural creep. We will show how dependency analysis can be used to visualize the architecture of Ant, Eclipse and NetBeans. Finally, actual dependency models will be created for multiple generations of an application to highlight how architecture evolves and often begins to erode.

After this session you have learned a method to:

• improve the Architecture of your java system.
• locate hard to find dependency bottlenecks
• actually improve the quality of your software

“I get to see a lot of demos. A lot of them are pretty cool. Everyone once in a while I see something that just blows my socks off.” - Mike Milinkovich, Executive Director, Eclipse Foundation

Level: Intermediate and up

Prerequisite knowledge: Development experience is beneficial in understanding the material.

Outline of the presentation:

Introduction:

• Multiple views of software architecture
• New Representation of software architecture using a Dependency Structure Matrix

Understanding the Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM):

• History of DSM
• Understanding the DSM representation
• Scalability: Representing hierarchy in a DSM
• Analysis techniques in DSM – partitioning, clustering

Representing Architectural Patterns:

• Layering: strick, normal, and imperfect
• Componentization: interdependent, independent, and private components
• Anti-patterns in DSM
• Design Rules – specifying architectural patterns

Exploring the architecture of real software applications (actual demonstration in parts, examples
using Ant, Eclipse, & NetBeans):

• Hierarchical Decomposition
• Understanding the DSM
• Conceptualizing the Architecture
• Formalizing the Architecture
• Short Term Remediation
• Longer Term Remediation

The Life Cycle of Architecture (actual demonstration):

• Dependency Model for Apache Ant Version 1.4.1
• Dependency Model for Apache Ant Version 1.5.1
• Dependency Model for Apache Ant Version 1.6.1
• Managing Architectural Evolution explicitly
• Understanding the impact of change
• Leveraging DSMs during maintenance and testing

Summary:

• Big picture view that scales