Computer Science Colloquium
Professor Athula Ginige
University of Western Sydney, Australia
CBEADS: A Framework for developing evolutionary Web Applications
Mon 15.05.2006, 15:30, 60 minutesHS 11
Abstract
We are now faced with a new challenge when developing software applications. This is due to application requirements keep evolving rapidly. This is especially true for Web based Software applications. Sometimes the requirements have evolved considerably by the time system is developed making the system obsolete even before the system is deployed. In situations where requirements are evolving, traditional software development approaches that require the system to be fully specified as the first step in the development process are not suitable. We looked at various software development methodologies and adopted the concept that software is a medium to capture knowledge rather than a product. This led us to change our thinking from looking at methodologies to develop applications to developing a framework within which applications can evolve. After analysing essential characteristics such a framework should have we developed CBEADS: Component Based E-Application Development/Deployment Shell. Apart from authentication, role based access control, role and user management functions, CBEADS has the ability to create new functions within its framework so that it can evolve. Each function typically represents a use case. These functions can be grouped to form large complex applications. Next we extended the capabilities of CBEADS by adding a set of smart tools. This is based on the concept of meta-applications. At present we have developed smart business objects, interface generator and a workflow engine. By configuring the meta-applications we can quickly develop the required application. This is much faster than developing the application. When requirements evolve you change the relevant parameters to enable the application to evolve with the changing requirements. Using CBEADS together with these tools we have been able to rapidly develop some very large and complex applications. In this seminar I will explain the concepts, how we arrived at the CBEADS architecture, and demonstrate an application developed using CBEADS.Bio
Athula Ginige is the Professor of Information Technology at University of Western Sydney. He is also the Director of Advanced enterprise Information Management Systems (AeIMS) research group. He graduated with B.Sc. first class honours from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, England. He is now a fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Society and a member of editorial board of the International Journal of Web Engineering. He is also a Program Co-chair of the 6th International Conference on Web Engineering. Athula has carried out extensive research in the areas of robotics, computer vision, image coding, multimedia systems, development of large scale Web based information systems, information structures for interactive flexible learning modules, new information retrieval strategies for the Web and, eTransformation strategies and supporting technologies for small to medium size enterprises (SMEs). He has also been involved in design and development of various web based information systems and eBusiness systems that are used by various commercial organisations today. He has over 100 Journal and Conference publications. He has given many invited talks, seminar presentations and tutorials at various local and international conferences on video coding, multimedia information systems, Web Engineering, Emerging Information Society and eBusiness. In 2001, together with a colleague he guest edited 2 special issues of IEEE Multimedia on Web Engineering. He has also served in many conference organising and program committees. In 2002 and 2003 he organised and chaired the Web Engineering workshop in conjunction with the International Conference on Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering. He was the national president of the Australian Pattern recognition Society (APRS) from 1994 to 1995. He has also served on the editorial board of IEEE Multimedia. At present he is leading a project group looking at ways of eTransforming small to medium size enterprises in Western Sydney region in Australia. As part of this project he has led many research groups that have developed an eTransformation Methodology for small to medium size enterprises, CBEADS; a Component Based eApplication Development Shell and an eTransformation Road map that can be used to plan the eTransformation strategyInvited by Institute für: Telekooperation, FAW, Bioinformatik
The Computer Science Colloquium is organized by the Department of Coputer Science at JKU, the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Informatik (ÖGI) and the Österreichische Computergesellschaft (OCG).