Emerging Research Concepts for Very Large-Scale Software Engineering

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Emerging Research Concepts for Very Large-Scale
Software Engineering

• Walt Scacchi
• Institute for Software ResearchUniversity of
  California, IrvineIrvine, CA, 92697-3425 USA
• 4 January 2006

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Overview

• Very Large-Scale Software Engineering
• Engineering software-intensive systems consisting
  of gt5M SLOC and/or gt5K components/subsystems
• VLSSE Processes
• Alternative ways to rapidly develop, analyze,
  deploy, evolve VLSS systems
• (Open Source Software Development) OSSD/SE
  Processes Accommodating New H/W platforms

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Knowledge needed

• Need to acquire knowledge about development
  processes, work practices, community dynamics,
  and system configuration management techniques
  employed in large-scale (500K-5M SLOC) and very
  large-scale (gt5M SLOC) OSSD projects.
• Focused, in-depth, and comparative case studies
• Producing shareable, reusable, redeployable
  knowledge assets

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Knowledge needed

• Need to acquire knowledge of the (modular)
  architectures of the software systems,
  development teams, and user communities found in
  very large OSSD projects.
• VLSIS architectures are socio-technical
  interaction networks, not just software.
• Need knowledge for how to model, visualize,
  analyze, simulate, and enact OSSD project
  architectures, and their continuous evolution

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Knowledge needed

• Need to acquire knowledge for how best to
  adaptively configure modular force architectures
  for
• Software systems
• Developer and User teams
• Supporting contractors
• Remote contributors (e.g., OSS community
  contributors)

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Very Large-Scale Software Engineering Advanced
RD opportunity areas

• Architectural specification (system, services
  (data, protocols, processes), team/organization.
• Configuration management and version control
• Process automationbuilds, regression tests, etc.
• Reliance on informalisms for development
• Current SE formalisms and tools dont scale well
  or dont work well in practice to support VLSEE

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Very Large-Scale Software Engineering

• Research needs to consider
• Test-beds for full-size system mock-ups (probably
  built from OSS and Computer Game components)
• Visualization aidsarchitecture, configuration,
  socio-technical networks
• Empirical knowledge about existing VLSEE
  practices for both OSS and CSS/COTS
• Computer-supported cooperative organizational
  learning environments (CSCOLE) supporting
  organizational transformation
• Need to invent new ways to rapidly transform LSEE
  and VLSEE practices in industry

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VLSSE Processes Advanced RD opportunity areas

• Configuration management and version control
• Architectural specification and maintenance
• Collaboration, leadership, control and conflict
  management
• VLSEE community development and support
• Software source code and artifact data mining

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OSSD/SE Processes Accommodating New H/W

• New H/W being developed to support computer games
  and grid-based computing clusters using
  (massively scalable) cell/multi-core processors
• Future USAF training and war games should be
  capable of modeling, simulating, and dynamically
  reconfiguring modular wings with high visual
  and operational realism in alternative engagement
  scenarios
• Games and grids increasingly depend on OSSD
  methods and technologies
• Globus grid middleware is OSS
• Support for OSS game development capabilities now
  packaged with many successful computer games sold
  retail
• USAF Air Dominance flight mission training
  game developed in 3 months at 1/20 cost of
  Americas Army via OSS game modding techniques

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OSSD/SE Processes Accommodating New H/W Research
Opportunity

• Enable/subsidize the OSS Game and Grid
  Development to lead the way, and to contribute to
  sustaining the effort.
• Example Engage contractor to setup a Corporate
  sponsored OSS Game Grid project to develop and
  evolve a massively multi-player online game
  environment for playing real-time strategy
  games using models/visions of tomorrows AF.

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• Example Research
• opportunity
• Need to invent new massively multiplayer online
  game or game- grid employing reusable launch
  vehicle and manned/unmanned aerial surveillance