Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) - Part I

CASE tools are application tools (small programs) which automate the design development process of software systems projects. They help perform repetitive complex tasks and activities thus making the developers job very much easier.

Types of CASE Tools

• Planning CASE tools (gg: report writers)
• CASE design tools (eg: diagramming tools)
• Code generators
• CASE testing tools
• CASE documenting tools

Planning CASE tools

These are the CASE tools which help perform the initial activities of a project. Common planning CASE tools include report writers, information analyzers (feasibility analysis tools, cost benefit analysis tools, etc)

CASE design tools

these are the CASE tools which help perform the design activities of a project. Common CASE design tools include

1. Diagramming tools - DFD diagrammer, ERD diagrammer.
2. Interface design tools - screen builders, form generators.
3. Normalization utilities

Code generators

These are the CASE tools which help perform the development activities of a project. The

most common form of code generators are those which accept simple user instructions and

convert them into real application logic.

CASE testing tools

These are the CASE tools which help perform the testing function in a software systems

project. Such tools could be used to either automate black box testing where sample data

are automatically fed into the system and outputs automatically compared with that which is

expected. Another approach is to use CASE to automate the logic testing process where the

tool will check through lines of code automatically without the need for much user interaction.

CASE documenting tools

These are a form of CASE tools which enable developers to automatically generate

supporting documentation such as system documentation (for developers) and user

documentation (help files, troubleshooting guides, tutorials, etc for users) while developing

the applications.