Aspectifying Constraints in Model-Integrated Computing
Jeff Gray, Ted Bapty, Sandeep K. Neema · 2000
This position paper identifies some modeling problems that arise when the dominant decomposition is based upon the functional hierarchy of a physical system. In particular, constraints that are used to specify global system properties (e.g., latency, power consumption, precision, timing) often cross-cut the boundaries of the model hierarchy. This not only produces much repetition with respect to the placement of constraints, but it also makes it difficult to reason about the overall effects on the system. The paper presents a few ideas that are being considered to ameliorate this problem. An aspectoriented approach is being pursued that provides a separate module for specifying constraints and their propagation. Introduction "The crucial choice is, of course, what aspects to study `in isolation', how to disentangle the original amorphous knot of obligations, constraints and goals into a set of `concerns' that admit a reasonably effective separation." [Dijkstra, 76] Among t...