Formal object oriented design and analysis

Our research has resulted in developing a general framework for object-oriented design and design analysis. This framework includes an OO design notation and a method for developing design analyses. The notation provides a formal way to express OO designs. The elements of the notation are precisely defined in their meaning and function. Our notation for behavioral design is also unique in that it was developed in accordance with OO principles such as information hiding and modularity. Having modular designs facilitates the development of large systems in less complex ways and allows elements of the designs to be reused. The analysis element of our formal framework defines a method of developing design analysis properties. These properties will each state a condition or rule in order to have a well formed design. The properties are independent of each other and the design notation. New properties can be added at any time, without affecting the design and the existing analysis properties. The properties also maintain the formality of the design notation. They are unambiguous in their purpose and function. The formality of the notation and analysis properties acts as the basis for the automated analysis system. We illustrate the feasibility of our formal framework with the development of an automated design analysis system. The system takes an OO design as input, and stores it in an internal data structure. Once this data structure is built, it may be analyzed with any of the implemented analysis properties. We have suggested a procedure for translating an analysis property into an implementation. Using this procedure, we have implemented several example analysis properties. In accordance with the formal framework, new analysis properties may be added to the system at any time, without affecting the existing analyses.