Developing and Evaluating Web Application Systems Based on Automated Program Generation Toolkit

Recent advancements in IT technology are fueling corporate software development efforts to provide high quality, low cost products in an ever-shorter period of time1). To help achieve this goal, development techniques such as standard architecture2), framework 3) 4), and design pattern 3) 4) as well as Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) 5) 6) 7) 8) development methods are receiving increasing attention. Through use of these technologies and methods, it is expected that low cost, high quality applications can be achieved. However, in order to utilize these technologies and methods effectively, well-defined modular approach enabled by superior overall application design is required 9). At the same time, it is necessary to address the trade-off between system flexibility and complexity. Flexible solutions increase complexity and raise the cost of implementation. Our aim is to supplement these tradeoffs. We have developed a toolkit for automated program generation, based on design patterns, and have applied it to an actual Web application development project 10) 11) 12) 13). Using this toolkit realizes significantly higher productivity through the representation of software development knowledge and know-hows in the form of design patterns. The toolkit runs on multiple architectures (ASP/COM architecture 10) 13) and JSP/EJB architecture 11) and cost evaluations were performed on each architecture 11) 12). This article surveys toolkit methodology and cost efficiencies. Table 1 shows the files created by this toolkit.