Opportunities, limitations, and tradeoffs in process programming

Abstract

Software-process programming faces numerous opportunities, limitations, and tradeoffs. Effective process definitions have been characterized in terms of accuracy, precision, fidelity, and fitness. Some of these properties are inherently limited, while others are subject to tradeoff. The relationship between a software process and an executing process program can be described by correspondence, determinability, and coordination. Program behavior may correspond only in part to process behavior. The ability of a process program to determine the behavior of a software process is limited. Coordination requires a process program to engage developers; limits on coordination imply limits on fidelity and precision. These issues affect the use of process programs as models, the tailorability and flexibility of processes, and process-program modifiability.<>