Constructing real-time collaborative software engineering tools using CAISE, an architecture for supporting tool development

ABSTRACT

Real-time Collaborative Software Engineering (CSE) tools have many perceived benefits including increased programmer communication and faster resolution of development conflicts. Demand and support for such tools is rapidly increasing, but the cost of developing such tools is prohibitively expensive. We have developed an architecture, CAISE, to support the rapid development of CSE tools. It is envisaged that the architecture will facilitate the creation of a range of tools, allowing the perceived benefits of collaboration to be fully realised. In this paper, we focus on the development of CSE tools within the CAISE architecture. We present examples to illustrate how such tools are constructed and how they support real-time multi-user collaborative software development. We also address issues related to the number of collaborators and discuss performance aspects.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Collaborative computing

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.11 Software Architectures
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Computer-aided software engineering (CASE)
      D.2.6 Programming Environments
          Subjects: Integrated environments

  H. Information Systems
  H.4 INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
      H.4.1 Office Automation
          Subjects: Groupware

General Terms:
Design, Management, Theory

Keywords:
CSCW & groupware, collaborative software engineering, continuous integration, tool construction