什么是CASE？

　　CASE即Computer Aided Software Engineering，中文意思是计算机辅助软件工程。CASE是一套方法和工具，可使系统开发商规定的应用规则，并由计算机自动生成合适的计算机程序。CASE工具分成"高级"CASE和"低级"CASE.高级CASE工具用来绘制企业模型以及规定应用要求，低级CASE工具用来生成实际的程序代码。CASE工具和技术可提高系统分析和程序员工作效率。其重要的技术包括应用生成程序、前端开发过程面向图形的自动化、配置和管理一及寿命周期分析工具。

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) is the use of software tools to assist in the development and maintenance of software. Tools used to assist in this way are known as CASE Tools.

All aspects of the software development lifecycle can be supported by software tools, and so the use of tools from across the spectrum can, arguably, be described as CASE; from project management software through tools for business and functional analysis, system design, code storage, compilers, translation tools, test software, and so on.

However, it is the tools that are concerned with analysis and design, and with using design information to create parts (or all) of the software product, that are most frequently thought of as CASE tools. Such tools arose out of developments such as Jackson Structured Programming and the software modelling techniques promoted by researchers such as Ed Yourdon, Chris Gane and Trish Sarson (see structured programming, SSADM). In this narrower range, CASE applied, for instance, to a database software product, might normally involve:

• Modelling business / real world processes and data flow
• Development of data models in the form of entity-relationship diagrams
• Development of process and function descriptions
• Production of database creation SQL and stored procedures

CASE tools were at their peak in the early 1990′s. At the time IBM had proposed AD/Cycle which was an alliance of software vendors centered around IBM′s mainframe. The two giants of the time were Atlanta based Knowledgeware with their IEW (software engineering) and ADW tools and Texas Instruments with their IEF tool. These tools were full lifecycle and included Upper CASE and Lower CASE (see below). With the decline of the mainframe, AD/Cycle and the Big CASE tools died off, opening the market for the mainstream CASE tools of today. Interesting enough, nearly all of the leaders of the CASE market of the early 1990′s ended up being purchased by Computer Associates, including IEW, IEF, ADW, Cayenne, and LBMS.

Some typical CASE tools are:

• Code generation tools
• UML editors and the like
• Refactoring tools
• QVT or Model transformation Tools
• Configuration management tools including revision control

CASE tools do not only output code. They also generate other output typical of various systems analysis and design methodologies such as SSADM. E.g.

• database schema
• data flow diagrams
• entity relationship diagrams
• program specifications
• user documentation

Sometimes CASE tools are separated in two groups:

• Upper CASE: Tools for the analysis and design phase of the software development lifecycle (diagramming tools, report and form generators, analysis tools)
• Lower CASE: Tools to support implementation, testing, configuration management

List of sample CASE tools

• ArgoUML - website
• ARIS - primarily a Business Process Management tool including CASE components
• Blue Ink
• CASE Studio 2
• CASEWise
• DBDesigner 4 is a visual database design system that integrates database design, modeling, creation and maintenance into a single environment website
• DMS Software Reengineering Toolkit
• Eclipse with plugins - website
• Embarcadero ER/Studio
• Embarcadero Describe
• Enterprise Architect - Sparx Systems
• eREQUIREMENTS - Web-based Requirements Management System for Web Application Development
• ERWin - Computer Associates
• Gorilla eXecution Engine - Create fully-functional simulations from UML models.
• INNOVATOR - MID
• iRise - iRise is the world′s first software solution used by business people to create a visual preview or prototype of applications - before coding. iRise simulations let users validate requirements visually which significantly reduces re-work and project delays.
• MagicDraw UML - No Magic, Inc.
• Modelistic
• Obsydian / Plex - Computer Associates
• Oracle Designer
• Rational Rose - IBM
• SILVERRUN - Grandite
• Sybase PowerDesigner
• Synon
• System Architect - Popkin Software
• Together - Borland
• Topcased - website
• ATL (part of the AMMA Model Driven Engineering Platform.
• Visible Enterprise Products
• Visual Paradigm for UML
• Rational ClearCASE - IBM
• Database Designer for MySQL
• swREUSER - Software Reuse all along the software development life-cycle

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