XML Based Source Code to Requirements

FlowLynx proposes development of a web-based Next Generation Synthesis Environment to improve the speed and accuracy of software engineering tools and methodologies. This environment will support project stakeholder collaboration, automation, VV&A, and code to requirements tracing. Our approach includes mapping source code and domain knowledge into and between three levels of Meta Languages: Process Oriented, Domain Specific and Software Systems Requirements. These Meta Languages will be Extensible Meta-Languages (XMLs) and, by including Artificial Intelligence interfaces, form a basis for Intelligent Synthesis Environments. The system will enable the capture, integration, collection, and tracking of logic (from source code) and fuzzy knowledge (from the domain) to generate a software knowledge base. This knowledge base will contain all the information to deduce what the software does, how it does it, and ultimately help answer ¿why it does it¿ ¿ the system requirements. ¿Backing out¿ requirements from the product source code and domain enables one to consider a comparison with the original software system requirements. Knowledge based traceability will reveal any misconceptions made during the software life cycle. This approach will enable an organization to continually evaluate its life-cycle management process in attaining more accurate life-cycle requirements and cost data early in the design phase.