Meta-model based framework for architectural knowledge management

Abstract

The need to support a software architect's day-to-day activities through efficient tool support has been highlighted both in research and industry. However, managing enterprises' Architectural Knowledge (AK) to support scenarios such as decision making, what-if analysis, and collaboration during the execution of large industrial projects is still a challenge. In this paper, we propose the architecture of an AK management framework to support software architects to manage AK. The components of this framework including SyncPipes and rule engine allow software architects to consolidate projects' data from disparate sources and to define domain-specific rules to address the challenges in inconsistency analysis, context-sensitive recommendations, and tracking of artifacts within projects. The technical details for realizing the components of the framework are also presented. The proposed AK management framework has been successfully implemented as part of an industrial project and is currently being evaluated in different domains.