Using a situational method engineering approach to identify reusable method fragments from the secure TROPOS methodology

Situational method engineering (SME) has as a focus a repository of method fragments, gleaned from extant methodologies and best practice. Using one such example, the OPF (OPEN Process Framework) repository, we identify deficiencies in the current SME support for securityrelated issues in the context of agent-oriented software engineering. Specifically, theoretical proposals for the development of reusable security-related method fragments from the agent-oriented methodology Secure Tropos are discussed. Since the OPF repository has already been enhanced by fragments from Tropos and other non-security-focussed agent-oriented software development methodologies, the only method fragments from Secure Tropos not already contained in this repository are those that are specifically security-related. These are identified, clearly defined and recommended for inclusion in the current OPF repository of method fragments. ©JOT 2010

Proceedings of The Multi-Agent Logics, Languages, and Organisations Federated Workshops (MALLOW 2010)

http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-627/allproceedings.pdfInternational audienceMALLOW-2010 is a third edition of a series initiated in 2007 in Durham, and pursued in 2009 in Turin. The objective, as initially stated, is to "provide a venue where: the cost of participation was minimum; participants were able to attend various workshops, so fostering collaboration and cross-fertilization; there was a friendly atmosphere and plenty of time for networking, by maximizing the time participants spent together"

Engineering security into distributed systems: a survey of methodologies

Rapid technological advances in recent years have precipitated a general shift towards software distribution as a central computing paradigm. This has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the dangers of security breaches, often causing security attributes to become an inhibiting factor for use and adoption. Despite the acknowledged importance of security, especially in the context of open and collaborative environments, there is a growing gap in the survey literature relating to systematic approaches (methodologies) for engineering secure distributed systems. In this paper, we attempt to fill the aforementioned gap by surveying and critically analyzing the state-of-the-art in security methodologies based on some form of abstract modeling (i.e. model-based methodologies) for, or applicable to, distributed systems. Our detailed reviews can be seen as a step towards increasing awareness and appreciation of a range of methodologies, allowing researchers and industry stakeholders to gain a comprehensive view of the field and make informed decisions. Following the comprehensive survey we propose a number of criteria reflecting the characteristics security methodologies should possess to be adopted in real-life industry scenarios, and evaluate each methodology accordingly. Our results highlight a number of areas for improvement, help to qualify adoption risks, and indicate future research directions.Anton V. Uzunov, Eduardo B. Fernandez, Katrina Falkne

Auto-organisation de fragments pour la conception de processus de développement

Dans le domaine de l'ingénierie du logiciel, plusieurs méthodes ont été conçues, chacune avec ses avantages et ses inconvénients. Même s'il en existe à ce jour de nombreuses, l'expérience a montré que ces méthodes ne sont pas universelles et ne peuvent prévoir toutes les situations possibles. L'évolution actuelle des systèmes impose des modifications de plus en plus rapides et fréquentes de leurs méthodes. Certaines tentatives ont essayé d'unifier des processus de développement et leurs méta-modèles mais se sont révélées infaisables jusqu'à présent. Une autre voie explorée a été de profiter de ces nombreuses méthodes en essayant de combiner leurs caractéristiques particulières. Les travaux sur l'ingénierie des méthodes situationnelles ont cherché plus précisément à permettre la réutilisation de fragments de démarches existantes pour en construire de nouvelles mieux adaptées aux spécificités d'une situation. Cette famille d'approches a l'avantage de préserver les acquis et d'apporter également une certaine flexibilité en fournissant les moyens d'adapter une méthode aux besoins spécifiques d'une situation particulière. C'est dans ce contexte que s'est inscrit mon travail de thèse. Ma contribution dans ce domaine vise à apporter des éléments de réponses pour la conception automatique de processus composé de fragments dont les verrous sont les suivants : (i) comment sélectionner les fragments ; (ii) comment les composer pour obtenir un processus de méthode ; (iii) comment évaluer le résultat de la composition. Une première contribution essentielle de cette thèse est axée sur l'analyse des contraintes et besoins nécessaires à la composition automatique de fragments à savoir la standardisation de fragments, leur sélection et assemblage ainsi que rôle de l'utilisateur avant et pendant la composition. Ces travaux m'ont permis de proposer le système SCoRe (\textit{Self-Combining method fRagments}) qui auto-compose des fragments de méthodes à l'aide d'un système multi-agents adaptatif afin de déterminer un processus adapté et adaptable à des situations spécifiques. Son objectif est, d'une part, d'assister au maximum l'équipe de développement dans la réalisation de son projet, et, d'autre part, de s'adapter aux potentielles évolutions pendant l'exécution du processus composé. Une deuxième contribution réside dans la définition de critères et méthodes pour l'évaluation de processus existants ou résultants de la production du système multi-agent adaptatif SCoRe. L'objectif de ses évaluations est de mesurer les caractéristiques structurelles et les performances des méthodes évaluées.Software systems are becoming more and more complex. A common dilemma faced by software engineers in building complex systems is the lack of method adaptability. In the Software Engineering field, several methods have been created with advantages and drawbacks but the experience shows that existing methods are not universal and cannot answer all situations. The system evolution requires method modifications more rapid and frequent. Some researchers tried to unify metamodel. Another way explored was to take advantage of the different methods by combining their characteristics. The situational method engineering (SME) approaches focus on the in-house construction of methods for systems development which are tuned to specific situations of development projects. My work of thesis is included in this context. My main contribution aims at bringing first answers to the automatic process composition. The issues of the creation of tailored processes are the following: (i) selecting appropriate method components from a repository of reusable method components; (ii) tailoring these method components as appropriate; (iii) integrating these tailored method components to form the new situation-specific method. A first main contribution of this thesis aims at studying the ability to design process and adjust the proposed process according to the characteristics of application domain and users profile. I propose an original system called SCoRe (Self-Combined method fRagments) to automatically build a self-adaptive design process where each fragment is encapsulated in an autonomous agent. On one hand, the goal of SCoRe is to assist the designer in the choice of fragment and therefore in the definition of a process most suitable to the current situation. On the other, its goal is to react dynamically to potential modifications. A second contribution resides in the definition of criteria and methods for evaluating existing processes or processes assembled by SCoRe. The aim of these evaluations is to measure structural characteristics and performance of evaluated methods

Agent Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) Approach to Game Development Methodology

This thesis investigates existing game development methodologies, through the process of researching game and system development models. The results indicate that these methodologies are engineered to solve specific problems, and most are suitable only for specific game genres. Different approaches to building games have been proposed in recent years. However, most of these methodologies focus on the design and implementation phase. This research aims to enhance game development methodologies by proposing a novel game development methodology, with the ability to function in generic game genres, thereby guiding game developers and designers from the start of the game development phase to the end of the implementation and testing phase. On a positive note, aligning development practice with universal standards makes it far easier to incorporate extra team members at short notice. This increased the confidence when working in the same environment as super developers. In the gaming industry, most game development proceeds directly from game design to the implementation phase, and the researcher observes that this is the only industry in which this occurs. It is a consequence of the game industry’s failure to integrate with modern development techniques. The ultimate aim of this research to apply a new game development methodology using most game elements to enhance success. This development model will align with different game genres, and resolve the gap between industry and research area, so that game developers can focus on the important business of creating games. The primary aim of Agent Oriented Agile Base (AOAB) game development methodology is to present game development techniques in sequential steps to facilitate game creation and close the gap in the existing game development methodologies. Agent technology is used in complex domains such as e-commerce, health, manufacturing, games, etc. In this thesis we are interested in the game domain, which comprises a unique set of characteristics such as automata, collaboration etc. Our AOAB will be based on a predictive approach after adaptation of MaSE methodology, and an adaptive approach using Agile methodology. To ensure proof of concept, AOAB game development methodology will be evaluated against industry principles, providing an industry case study to create a driving test game, which was the problem motivating this research. Furthermore, we conducted two workshops to introduce our methodology to both academic and industry participants. Finally, we prepared an academic experiment to use AOAB in the academic sector. We have analyzed the feedbacks and comments and concluded the strengths and weakness of the AOAB methodology. The research achievements are summarized and proposals for future work outlined