Active databases for active repositories

Abstract

The various activities necessary for constructing a software product are described by software process models. Many of the actions mentioned there are supported by tools that use a repository in order to create, manipulate, generate, etc. the deliverables. The process is tailored for each project to necessary work and planned with respect to existing resources. This results in a schedule for each project that is manually compared with ongoing work. We introduce the idea of active repositories that partially automate scheduling and controlling of the activities described within a process model. The notion of active repositories is based on active database technology that allows for detecting events and triggering the corresponding actions. Events are state changes in the repository or raised by external components, e.g. a clock or CASE tool. Actions manipulate the repository, trigger CASE tools, signal external systems or notify the user.<>