Toolpack-An Experimental Software Development Environment Research Project

• Published in: IEEE transactions on software engineering Vol. SE-9; no. 6; pp. 673 - 685
• Main Author: Osterweil, L.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.11.1983; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; IEEE Computer Society
• Subjects: Algorithm design and analysis; Analysis; Applied sciences; Buildings; Computer architecture; Computer languages; Computer science; control theory; systems; Debugging; Design; Development; Dynamic; Environment; Exact sciences and technology; Experimentation with prototypes; Filing systems; Fortran; Laboratories; portable software; Programming; programming environments; Projects; Prototypes; Software; Software design; Software development; Software engineering; Software prototyping; Software systems; Software tools; Software utilities; Transaction databases; virtual file system; Virtual prototyping; Programming
• ISSN: 0098-5589; 1939-3520
• DOI: 10.1109/TSE.1983.235432

This paper discusses the goals and methods of the Toolpack project and in this context discusses the architecture and design of the software system being produced as the focus of the project. Toolpack is presented as an experimental activity in which a large software tool environment is being created for the purpose of general distribution and then careful study and analysis. The paper begins by explaining the motivation for building integrated tool sets. It then proceeds to explain the basic requirements that an integrated system of tools must satisfy in order to be successful and to remain useful both in practice and as an experimental object. The paper then summarizes the tool capabilities that will be incorporated into the environment. It then goes on to present a careful description of the actual architecture of the Toolpack integrated tool system. Finally the Toolpack project experimental plan is presented, and future plans and directions are summarized.