An approach to a hybrid software process simulation using the DEVS formalism

Abstract

This article proposes an approach to a hybrid software process simulation modeling (SPSM) using discrete event system specification (DEVS) formalism, which implements the dynamic structure and discrete characteristics of the software development process. Many previous researchers on hybrid SPSM have described both discrete and continuous aspects of the software development process to provide more realistic simulation models. The existing hybrid models, however, have not fully implemented the feedback loop mechanism of the system dynamics.We define the DEVS Hybrid SPSM formalism by extending DEVS to the hybrid SPSM domain. Our hybrid SPSM approach uses system dynamics modeling to convey details concerning activity behaviors and managerial policies, while discrete event modeling controls activity start/completion and sequence. This approach also provides a clear specification, an explicit extension point to extend the simulation model, and a reuse mechanism. We will demonstrate a Waterfall-like hybrid software process simulation model using the DEVS Hybrid SPSM formalism.

A Hybrid Model for Dynamic Simulation of Custom Software Projects in a Multiproject Environment

“…The DEVS formalism established by Ziegler [20] is used by Choi et al [5] in what seems the more methodologically consistent proposal for hybrid modeling at least as far as the authors of this paper have been able to identify. Based on this formalism the cited authors formulate a model obviously inspired in the classical one by Abdel-Hamid and Madnick [2] in which the usage of an adequately small time step and the so called QSS -quantized-state system -as an alternative to interpolation for numerical integration provides at least theoretically a natural way to hybrid simulation.…”

Resource Specification for Prototyping Human-Intensive Systems

“…Simulating less-detailed resource models is common, exploring domains such as software development [1,7,11], healthcare [2,4,10] and other domains that employ intricate processes. Some discrete-event simulation approaches offer enhanced flexibility in defining process event flow [5,18].…”

“…System dynamics approaches [7,8] incorporate resource issues more prominently, integrating representations of both discrete and continuous dynamics into discrete-event simulations. However, even these approaches fail to represent humans behavior in sufficient detail.…”

Deriving Software Process Simulation Model from SPEM-based Software Process Model

“…We use Software Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) [3] and Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS)-Hybrid formalism for our research [4]. SPEM is a metamodel for defining processes and their components as a standard for process modeling [3].…”

“…It allows SPEM to gain the benefit of the expressiveness of UML. The DEVS-Hybrid simulation model is based on the DEVS-Hybrid formalism, which is an extension of DEVS formalism to the hybrid software process simulation [4]. We provide the three steps for deriving a simulation model: Mapping, Modeling, and Transforming.…”