Analysis, Modeling, and Design Tools

Analysis, modeling, and design (AMD) tools represent the formalized methodologies and technologies (either object oriented or nonobject) that assist in creating or constructing model-generated applications, application requirements, data definitions, programming specifications, sequence diagrams, data and business processes, and business rules.

AMD tools and technologies may integrate or combine the abstract benefits of visual modeling and automated methodologies and may include tools to construct applications from domains, rules, and/or components if that ability is fully integrated and sold with the methodology.

This class of tools includes business process modelers, business rules engines, business rules repositories, and business process analysis platforms along with the modeling languages that support them. This market can further be segmented into two submarkets: model-driven development (MDD) and business rule management systems (BRMSs).

• Model-driven development. MDD is an abstract software development process that supports the understanding and definition of objects and relationships rendered as a specification. MDD is centered around five design principles: abstraction, model centricity, implementation independence, round-trip engineering, and the automation of selected IT application and system artifacts.

• Business rule management systems. BRMSs are defined as discrete systems that define, manage, and execute conditional logic in concert with other IT processes and actions. BRMSs are well known for their ability to automatically recognize the interrule relationships that evolve as rules are added or changed, thereby eliminating the need for careful and complex rule sequencing that would otherwise be necessary.

The following are representative vendors and products in this market:

• Borland (Together Designer)
• Computer Associates (ERwin)
• IBM (Rational Rose)
• ILOG (JRules)