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From: warren@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Warren Harrison)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: CASE - The Emperor has no clothes on!
Keywords: CASE rubbish
Message-ID: <3008@psueea.UUCP>
Date: 12 Jun 90 22:10:58 GMT
References: <37538@genrad.UUCP>
Sender: news@psueea.UUCP
Reply-To: warren@eecs.UUCP (Warren Harrison)
Organization: Portland State University, Portland, OR
Lines: 32

In article <37538@genrad.UUCP> charlie@genrad.com (Charlie D. Havener) writes:
>There has been a lot of talk about CASE tools in this group lately.
>The questions seem to be where can I get one and how is Brand X
>slightly better than Brand Y. It seems to me the real question is
>'Are Structured Design CASE tools worth investing time, effort and money in?'
>I have tentatively formed my decision. The answer is NO!
>
> [some remarks about object oriented programming/design being better
>  than structured analysis]

Some of the tools the poster mentioned (eg, EASYCASE) support other
things besides structured design - for example entity-relationship
modelling. Likewise, such CASE tools can be used to develop a model
of the system (not necessarily the solution) - for example checks
come in here with coupons, checks flow to the bank, coupons flow to
the order desk who then send order req's on to the warehouse, etc.
Such models can help the customer identify missing flows or misunder-
standings between the parties, as well as forming a basis for a
requirements document (for example, a finite machine describing the
behavior of the elevator you're supposed to write software to control).
Also many CASE tools provide the ability to do requirements tracing
which is useful whether you're using OOP/OOD or not.

The "real question" as the poster puts it should be 'are CASE tools
worth the time and effort if I want to do xxx'

Warren

==========================================================================
Warren Harrison                                          warren@cs.pdx.edu
Department of Computer Science                                503/725-3108
Portland State University