This document discusses Dictō, a research project at the University of Bern aimed at keeping software architecture under control. The project involves developing a checker tool that defines rules for architectural violations. Some example rules ensure persistence layers do not depend on service layers, implementation classes are annotated properly, and systems do not contain cycles or duplicate code. The tool also integrates with SonarQube for reporting and has been used to analyze open source learning management and PHP frameworks.

1. Dictō
Keeping Software
Architecture Under
Control
Andrea Caracciolo, Worblaufen,
2. april 2015
scg.unibe.ch/dicto/
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2. Project
2
Ú Research Project @ University of Bern
Ú People: Me, Prof. Oscar Nierstrasz, Dr. Mircea Lungu
Ú 2-3 years effort
Ú 5 publications
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3. 3
commit
CISCM
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4. 4
commit
CISCM
Architectural
violation+
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5. 5
commit
CISCM
Dictō
Checker
Rules
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6. 6
Dictō
Checker
Rules
Service = Package with name: “ch.sbb.*service*”
Persistence = Package with name: “ch.sbb.*persistence*”
ImplClass = Class with name: “*Impl”
SYSTEM cannotcontaincycles
Persistence cannotdependon Service
ImplClass musthave annotation"@EstaService”
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7. 7
Dictō
Checker
Rules
Service = Package with name: “ch.sbb.*service.*”
VarName = VarType with attr: “value”
VarName = VarType with attr!: “value”
VarName = VarType with attr: “val*”
SetName = {V1, V2} except{V3, V4}
Package [name]
Class [name,annotation,superClass]
Method [name,annotation,modifier,returntype,..]
Field [name,annotation,containingClass]
File [path]
WebResource[url, method,content,contentType]
XMLTag [file, name,attribute, xpath]
XMLTagAttribute [file, name,value,xpath]
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8. 8
Dictō
Checker
Rules
Persistence cannotdependon Service
VarName must predicate
VarName cannot predicate
only VarName can predicate
VarName can only predicate
Class / Package cannot depend on Class / Package
Class / Method must catch Class
Set <Package> must be layered
Class must have method Method / "String”
Class / Method / Field must have annotation “@String(..)”
System / Package cannot contain code clones
System / Package cannot contain cycles
WebResource must have latency < "Integer ms"
WebResource must handle load from "Integer users"
WebResource must have content "String”
File must contain text "String” …
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9. 9
Dictō
Checker
Rules
SYSTEM cannot contain cycles
Persistence cannot depend on Service
ImplClass must have annotation
"@EstaService”
XML
report
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10. SonarQube integration
10SBB • ESTA • 02.04.15
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11. Collaboration
11
Ú Learning Management System (open source)
Ú PHP Framework (1.8M LOC)
Ú Since 1997
Ú 49 institutional members; 12 service providers
Ú ~180 known installations worldwide
▪ e.g. La Poste (F) - 90’000 users
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12. Benefits
12
Design
Ú Enforce guidelines
Ú Check NFRs
Documentation
Ú Readable & executable specification
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