6.1.2 Interactive Metamodel‐Compliance Checking of Requirements in a Semiformal Representation

Abstract

Checking requirements is highly desirable but hard to achieve in practice, where only word processors are used in most projects. While in this case reviews are more or less the only means, formal representations allow for a variety of automated checks. Unfortunately, formal representations of requirements are rarely available in real‐world projects. Semiformal representations are easier to obtain and still offer some possibilities for automated checks. Based on an object‐oriented hypertext representation, we present an implemented approach for compliance checks against a metamodel, which resembles some kind of completeness checking. In addition to allowing checks to be invoked by a human user of the tool, the checks are periodically and automatically invoked by taking into account the already existing information on the requirements. In summary, we propose an interactive approach with shared initiative between the tool and its user for compliance checking of requirements against a metamodel in a semiformal representation.