Tool Integration: Model-based Tool Adapter Construction and Discovery Conforming to OSLC

Abstract: Tool Integration is a vital part in the modern IT industry. With the ever increasing complexity in reality, more tools in different domains are needed in research and development process. However, currently no vendor has a complete solution for the whole process, and no mature solution to integrate different tools together, thus tools are still used separately in the industry. Due to this separation, the same information is created more than once for different tools, which is both time wasting and error prone.This thesis is part of the research to deliver a model-based tool integration framework that helps the end user design their own scenario of tool integration and implement it with less effort by generating most common parts automatically. This thesis itself is mainly focused on tool adapters, including the model-based tool adapter construction and discovery. In the first part, a model-based tool adapter construction platform conforming to OSLC is designed and implemented, based on which, the construction process of a tool adapter is presented with an example. With this platform, most of the codes and configuration files can be generated, with the exemption of the tool specific functionalities. The tool adapter is constructed as a separate SCA component, and can be included in the SCA based tool chain with minor configuration. With SCA, the deployment of the tool adapter and future management can be largely eased. In the second part, the model-based discovery process of an unknown tool adapter conforming to OSLC and our assumptions is presented in detail. With the discovery tool, the sharing of the tool adapter is made possible, and the integration of the different tools are largely eased. An example of discover an unknown tool adapter is also included for a more clear explanation. Finally, in the meanwhile of the design and implementation of the construction platform and the discovery process, the existing Matlab/Simulink tool adapter is extended and refined to make it full compatible to the standard and our tool chain.