Cataloging design abstractions

ABSTRACT

Abstractions are the essence of software design, and various enterprises, such as design patterns, architectural styles, programming clichés and idioms, attempt to capture, organize and present them to software engineers. This position paper explores the possibility of mounting a more comprehensive effort to catalog abstractions. Related efforts such as the design of textual and electronic dictionaries, markup languages for software artifacts and ontologies of computer science topics are surveyed to inform the effort. A set of derivative questions is presented to explore the problem space.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.7 Distribution, Maintenance, and Enhancement
          Subjects: Documentation

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.7 Distribution, Maintenance, and Enhancement
          Subjects: Restructuring, reverse engineering, and reengineering
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features
          Subjects: Patterns

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education

General Terms:
Design, Documentation

Keywords:
abstraction, architectural styles, computer science education, design patterns, program understanding, programming idioms, reverse engineering