Authors:
Vera Pantelic
;
Alexander Schaap
;
Alan Wassyng
;
Victor Bandur
and
Mark Lawford
Affiliation:
McMaster Centre for Software Certification, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 and Canada
Keyword(s):
Model-Based Development, Simulink, Software Documentation, Embedded Software, Software Requirements Specification, Software Design Description.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Domain-Specific Modeling and Domain-Specific Languages
;
Languages, Tools and Architectures
;
Model-Driven Software Development
;
Software Engineering
Abstract:
In this paper we draw on our experience in the automotive industry to portray the clear need for proper documentation of Simulink models when they describe the implementations of embedded systems. We effectively discredit the “model is documentation” motto that has been hounding the model-based paradigm of software development. The state of the art of documentation of Simulink designs of embedded systems, both in academia and industrial practice, is reviewed. We posit that lack of proper documentation is costing industry dearly, and propose that a significant change in development culture is needed to properly position documentation within the software development process. Further, we discuss what is required to foster such a culture.