Object behavior analysis
Kenneth S. Rubin, Adele Goldberg · Communications of the ACM · 1992
Object Behavior Analysisnalysis is the study and modeling of a given problem domain, within the context of stated goals and objectives.It focuses on what a system is supposed to do, rather than how it is supposed to do it (which we consider the design aspects).In addition, it must embody the rule of traceability (why), which justifies the existence of a given result by tying it back to the stated goals and objectives.The components of the problem domain can be described as anything that end users of the system, both humans and machines, view as part of the problem context.This may include technical issues, if the users view such issues as part of the problem.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •We want the analysis process to be carried out in a predictable and controllable manner.In taking an object-oriented approach to analysis, our goal on completion is that we have a clear understanding of the behaviors exhibited by the system, the objects that exhibit these behaviors, the relationships among the objects, and how the objects interact with one another (the system dynamics).This must all be specified in a clear and well-defined language of object and behavior names, chosen from the problem domain.In addition, any implementation code must be traceable back to the results of the analysis.This means that the vocabulary and structures apparent in the design and implementation must clearly reflect the vocabulary and structures that result from the analysis.