ITR: Consistent Software Evolution

软件是多维的；除了程序源，它还有许多表示形式。这些包括正式的规范、测试套件、文档甚至开发历史。随着软件的发展，这些维度必须保持一致，并尽可能彻底地相互反映。然而，在实践中，虽然这些最初创建时通常是一致的，但它们往往受到不平等的关注，因此逐渐变得不一致。因此，程序员通常依赖源代码而排除大多数其他维度。这个项目的目标是通过将软件的维度视为彼此之间的约束来帮助程序员处理软件的发展。该项目提出了对不同软件维度通用的约束表示。软件进化就变成了一个保持约束之间一致性的过程。这些约束还可以帮助程序员识别系统中的高级特性，并生成文档设计决策的基本原理。软件维护成本的不断上升使项目的及时性及其结果具有重要意义。它将通过开发供程序员使用的工具产生立竿见影的影响。通过在教育环境中使用这些工具，它将产生长期的影响，以便未来的开发人员能够更好地理解维护软件多维度的重要性。

Software is multidimensional; it has many representations besides theprogram source. These include formal specifications, test suites,documentation and even the development history. As software evolves,these dimensions must stay consistent and reflect each other asthoroughly as possible. In practice, however, while these are usuallyconsistent when first created, they tend to receive unequal attentionand therefore gradually become inconsistent. Programmers thustypically rely on the source code to the exclusion of most otherdimensions.This project's goal is to help programmers cope with softwareevolution by viewing the dimensions of software as constraints on oneanother. The project proposes a constraint representation common tothe different software dimensions. Software evolution then becomes aprocess of maintaining consistency between constraints. Theseconstraints also help programmers identify high-level features intheir system, and generate rationales to document design decisions.The escalating costs of software maintenance give the projectimmediacy and its results high significance. It will have immediateimpact by developing tools for programmers to use. It will haveeffect over the long term by employing these tools in educationalsettings so future developers have a better appreciation for theimportance of maintaining the multiple dimensions of software.