A Framework for the prototype-based software development methodologies

Abstract

In the object oriented paradigm, two techniques, class-based technique and prototype-based technique are available for modeling the real-world objects. In this paper, we first study and analyze both object-modeling techniques, then using this study and analysis we identify a class of applications, and argue that the class-based methodologies that use the class-based technique as the object-modeling technique, are inappropriate to use for the development of this class of applications. Considering the requirements of the identified class of applications, we argue for need of a class of software development methodologies which are referred to as the prototype-based methodologies. In this paper, we also propose modifications in the classical Water-Fall life-cycle software development model, which make it consistent with the requirements of the prototype-based methodologies. The modified life-cycle model provides a framework and basic guidelines for proposing the prototype-based methodologies. Keywords: object-oriented paradigm, class-based technique, prototype-based technique, object modeling, software development methodologies, framework