A Software-System Visualization Tool
Abstract
Minion is a visual link editor used to configure and instrument software systems. It was originally developed as a general-purpose graph editor for use in many task domains where connected graphs appropriately model logical structures. A software system, for example, can be represented by a connected graph - nodes and edges of the graph correspond respectively to large-grain software modulus (e.g. programs, files, databased, servers) and the dependencies established between these modules (e.g. procedure calls, message passing channels). We use the tool to write, visualize, and execute specifications for heterogenous, distributed software applications in the Polylith module interconnection environment. Our tool complements use of the Polylith textual module interconnection environment. Our tool complements use of the Polylith textual module interconnection language (MIL) because Minion is used as a link editor that reads and writes MIL specifications. Through the use of windows, icons, menus, and other means of direct manipulation, users can edit MIL specs as graphs in order to perform complex configuration management tasks which may be tedious to denote directly in the MIL.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA227145
Entities
People
- James M. Purtilo
- John R. Callahan
Organizations
- University of Maryland