Beyond definition/use: architectural interconnection

  • Authors:

  • Robert Allen;David Garlan

  • Affiliations:

  • Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA;Computer Science Department, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Venue:
  • IDL '94 Proceedings of the workshop on Interface definition languages
  • Year:
  • 1994

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Abstract

Large software systems require decompositional mechanisms in order to make them tractable. Traditionally, MILs and IDLs have played this role by providing notations based on definition/use bindings. In this paper we argue that current MIL/IDLs based on definition/use have some serious drawbacks. A significant problem is that they fail to distinguish between "implementation" and "interaction" relationships between modules. We propose an alternative model in which components interact along welldefined lines of communication -- or connectors. Connectors are defined as protocols that capture the expected patterns of communication between modules. We show how this leads to a scheme that is much more expressive for architectural relationships, that allows the formal definition of module interaction, and that supports its own form of automated checks and formal reasoning.