@@ summary-chap03.txt @@
CHAPTER

3

Scheduler

Synthesis This chapter addresses the problem of building a tool
for activities scheduling. The scheduling tool offers essential
functionalities, such as creating activities and tasks, assigning
resources to activities, devising a time plan that enforces temporal
and resource constraints, and displaying the results in a graphical
interface. Focus: this case study emphasizes the role of domain models
and the mapping between entities of the problem and objects of the
solution. OO techniques: inclusion and separation of concerns. Java
features: Collections, AWT and Swing components. Background: The reader
is required to know the basic OO concepts and fundamental Java programming
techniques.

@@ summary-chap04.txt @@
CHAPTER

4

Classifier

Synthesis This chapter presents the development of a classifier
tool, which assigns a category label to items based on their
characteristics. The application developed here is intended to
support decision making at insurance companies. The categories in this
case are the risk levels and the items are insured objects, such as
cars. Focus: this case study exemplifies the mapping between entities
of the problem and objects of the solution, and the use of UML class
diagrams. OO techniques: inclusion and inheritance. Java features:
Collections. Background: The reader is required to know the basic OO
concepts and fundamental Java programming techniques.

@@ summary-chap05.txt @@
CHAPTER

5

Hardware Description Language

Synthesis This chapter investigates the use of Java as a Hardware
Description Language (HDL). The program simulates a typical computer
that adopts the Von Neumann architecture. The basic components are the
RAM memory that stores the programs and the data, the Keyboard that reads
input data from the command-line, the Monitor that displays the results,
the CPU that process the elementary operations (load, store, add, jump,
etc.), and the Bus that interconnects the basic components. Focus: this
case study exemplifies the exchange of data between objects and the use
of state transition diagrams to describe the behaviour of the CPU. OO
techniques: inclusion. Java features: Vectors, Files. Background: the
reader is required to know the basic OO concepts and fundamental Java
programming techniques.

@@ summary-chap06.txt @@
CHAPTER

6

Multi-format calculator

Synthesis This stand-alone application is a mathematical calculator
that supports multiple numbering bases (binary, decimal, hexadecimal)
and formats (fixed point, floating point, rational). The application
converts operands and result in/from the current base and format upon user
requests. Focus: this case study exemplifies the use of UML interaction
diagrams and Use Cases to describe the exchange of messages among objects
representing different bases and formats. OO techniques: inheritance and
polymorphism. Java features: exception handling Background: the reader
is required to know the basic OO techniques, which are exemplified in
previous chapters.

@@ summary-chap08.txt @@
CHAPTER

8

Code Documentation

Synthesis The application developed throughout this chapter is aimed at
generating customizable documentation for source code. The format chosen
for the documentation is HTML. The architecture of the application mainly
addresses extensibility requirements. Focus: this case study exemplifies
the application of the “Composite” design pattern which is widely used
when representation of hierarchical structure is required. OO techniques:
separation of concerns and delegation. Java features: A graphical user
interface is developed to provide ease of use for the application. The
GUI is developed by means of the swing set of components; in particular
a component is used, which is able to render HTML code. Background:
The reader is required to know the basic OO concepts and fundamental
Java programming techniques and to have a basic knowledge of HTML.


@@ summary-chap09.txt @@
CHAPTER

9

Manufacturing Work Cell

Synthesis Any complex application requires prototyping and
simulation. Simulation is typically used in three different situations:
When part of the application's functionality is in time-consuming
computations, or is not ready yet. When the application is a distributed
system and needs to be tested locally on a single computer. When the
application interacts with real devices, which can not be used for
testing and debugging. A typical example is a manufacturing work cell
made up of a number of physical devices (robots, machines, transporters)
and a work cell controller, which coordinates and synchronizes the
concurrent activities of the work cell system (e.g. moving piece,
machining, loading). The prototype that simulates the work cell system
is an executable specification on a single processor of the naturally
concurrent reality. This chapter addresses the problem of building a
discrete event simulation environment for testing the correct behavior
of a work cell controller. Focus: The emphasis is on the software
architecture of the simulator that is general enough to be applied in a
variety of application scenarios. OO techniques: finite state automata
to model the components’ dynamics Java features: information hiding
and inheritance Background: The chapter refers to well known domain
models for event communication, synchronization, and time simulation.

                    -- The End --