(1)
A Fast Approximate String Searching Algorithm
Mahmoud Mhashi, Adnan Rawashdeh, and Awni Hammouri
Mu’tah University, Faculty of Science, IT Department, Mu’tah, Karak, 61710, Jordan
mhashi@mutah.edu.jo, rawashdh@mutah.edu.jo, hammouri@mutah.edu.jo
In both approximate and exact string searching algorithms, the shift distance at the skipping step plays a major role in the performance of string matching algorithms. A new algorithm called the Modified Character-Weight Algorithm (MWA) has been developed to test the effect of the shift distance on the performance of approximate string matching. An experiment was performed comparing the performance of the MWA with that of Mhashi’s Character-Weight Algorithm (WA) using English text of size 1,005,077 characters. Using the average number of comparisons and the clock time as evaluation criteria, the MWA algorithm used only about 4% to 15% as many comparisons as the WA algorithm and about 10% to 35% of the clock time.
Key Words: Approximate string matching, searching, shift distance, condition types, and character access.
_______________________________________________________________________
Published in: Journal of Computer Science
1 (3): 405-412, 2005, ISBN 1549-3636
© 2005 Science Publications, USA.
(2)
A Practical Strategy for Building Frameworks
ADNAN A. RAWASHDEH
IT Department, Faculty of Science,
Mutah University, P. O. Box 7,Mutah 61710, Karak, Jordan
Application frameworks enable developers to rapidly produce new applications –provided that developers are familiar with and experts in using frameworks. Much of what has been written, supported by experience, shows that frameworks are complex, and not easy to learn and use. Unless they have been well understood, and experienced with, the chances of reusability are very limited. The traditional approach of developing an application framework for a particular domain is a separate and independent phase from developing applications. Thus the problem lies in the separation between the process of developing a framework and the on-going process of re-using it to build applications. A newly-introduced framework would be considered complete and is available to developers as a third-party product. It is usually static, complex and for a large segment of developers it is not a re-usable framework. How can developers be convinced to use new frameworks? This question stands unanswered. In this paper a practical strategy has been presented to help developers building their own frameworks . This would avoid problems of leaning and using third-party frameworks. Frameworks should evolve from and be reused in the same development environment by the same group of developers. With the support of object-oriented features, application frameworks can be extended in parallel with new software systems being built. This would overcome problems of learning and using third–party frameworks, and would achieve a high degree of systematic reuse.
Published in: Mutah Lil-Buhuth Wad-Dirasat, Jordan. 2006
ISSN 1021-6812, Volume (21) Number (2) 2006.
(3)
Evaluation of Software Reuse Methods Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
Adnan A. Rawashdeh
IT Department, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, Karak, Jordan.
[Abstract] Several existing methods recognized in the literature of software reuse. Today’s organizations, which are shifting toward a systematic reuse strategy, face a major decision regarding the appropriate reuse method to be adopted. The choice is important because studies show that the cost of a little change made to a reusable component exponentially increases compared to its development from scratch. If an organization fails to choose the appropriate reuse method, the desired savings are compromised. Therefore, the need for an evaluation process to guide the decision is a must. This contribution attempts to overcome the problem by introducing a simple evaluation process supported by a powerful decision-making tool known as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The evaluation is carried out on four selected reuse methods, namely components, patterns, applications, and frameworks; with respect to three quality characteristics, namely functionality, maintainability, and portability. The outcome of the evaluation has projected frameworks as a winner among the others. Of course, the process can be extended to accommodate a greater number of reuse methods with different characteristics such as cost, time, and effort.
[Key Words] Analytical Hierarchy Process, AHP, software reuse, decision-making tool
Published in: International Management Review (IMR),
ISSN 1551-6849, Vol 1 No. 4, pp. 54-69,
© 2005 American Scholars Press, Inc., USA
(4)
A New Software Quality Model for Evaluating COTS Components
Adnan Rawashdeh Bassem Matalkah
rawashdh@mutah.edu.jo mtalgha@mutah.edu.jo
IT Dept., Faculty of Science,Mutah University P.O. Box 7,
Mutah 61710, Karak, Jordan.
Abstract
Studies show that COTS-based (Commercial off the shelf) systems that are being built recently are exceeding 40% of the total developed software systems. Therefore, a model that ensures quality characteristics of such systems becomes a necessity. Among the most critical processes in COTS-based systems are the evaluation and selection of the COTS components. There are several existing quality models used to evaluate software systems in general; however, none of them is dedicated to COTS-based systems. In this contribution, an analysis study has been carried out on several existing software quality models, namely: McCall’s, Boehm, ISO 9126, FURPS, Dromey, ISO/IEC TR 15504-2 1998(E), Triangle and Quality Cube, for the purpose of evaluating them and defining a ground to build a new model specializing in evaluating and selecting COTS components. The study also outlines limitations found in the existing models, such as the tendency to ignore a certain quality feature like Functionality or the failure to describe how the quality measurement in these models has been carried out. As a result of this analysis, a new model has been built that supports a standard set of quality characteristics suitable for evaluating COTS components, along with newly defined sets of sub-characteristics associated with them. The new model avoids some of the limitations found in the existing models. The new model ignores quality characteristics that are not applicable to COTS components and is empowered with new ones that are. In addition, it matches the appropriate type of stakeholders with corresponding quality characteristics; such a feature is missing in all existing models. The objective of the new model is to guide organizations that are in the process of building COTS-based systems to evaluate and choose the appropriate products, and that is essential to the success of the entire system.
Keywords: COTS, Stakeholders, ISO 9126 Model, Dromey Model, McCall’s Model, Boehm’s
Model, FURPS Model, and Quality Model.
__________________________________
Published in: Journal of Computer Science,
2 (4): 373-381, 2006, ISBN 1549-3636
© 2006 Science Publications, USA.
(5)
Assessment of System Development Models with Regard to Software Reuse Practice
Adnan Rawashdeh
IT Department, Mutah University, Jordan.
This paper provides a descriptive study to classify and assess existing system development models used to build software applications. Each approach has been evaluated in terms of activities, advantages, drawbacks, and its applicability to a variety of project circumstances. More emphasis has been made on the latest Agile methodologies. In the real world, systematic software reuse has been practiced worldwide; none of the existing development models is dedicated to reuse nor supports reuse. Therefore, introducing a new model, or integrating reuse practice into existing system development life-cycles (SDLC) becomes an important issue. This paper documents an attempt to introduce a new SDLC dedicated to software reuse, and suggests modifications on the SDLCs of existing models to make them supportive of reuse practice.
Keywords: Waterfall, Evolutionary, Agile, Rapid-Development, Model, Reuse, SDLC.
___________________________________
Published in the Proceedings of The 1st International Conference on Digital
Communications and Computer Applications, JUST DCCA2007,
Pages 1164 –1177, March 19-22, 2007,
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan, 2007.
(6)
Capturing Resolution Software System
Supports Collaborative Work of Group Discussion
Mahmoud Mhashi, Awni Hammouri and Adnan Rawashdeh
IT Department, Faculty of Science, Mu’tah University,
Mu’tah, Karak, 61710, Jordan
mhashi@mutah.edu.jo, hammouri@mutah.edu.jo rawashdh@mutah.edu.jo,
Computer support capturing resolution has to deal with adapting properties of a shared discussion space as well as with adapting properties of the cooperation support to capturing resolution. In [1], an algorithm is developed to capture a resolution. The resolution in [1] is captured manually according to the Resolution Algorithm. In this paper, a Capturing Resolution System (CRS) has been developed and implemented to capture a resolution of a discussion automatically. One of the difficulties caused by methodological requirements during operation is the differentiation points about the content size of node, which is referred to in hypertext terminology as the problem of granularity. The CRS system was used in a case study to support a discussion. The data of the case study was analyzed. The finding of the conducted study implies that the correctness content and size of a node has serious effects on the diminishing of the disorientation problem by reducing the number of nodes and in turn reduces the number of links. Furthermore, the results support the previous results in [1] in that applying the resolution algorithm reduces the number of nodes and the size of the output. Future extensions to our work are outlined based on the weaknesses and limitations revealed by the studies.
Key Words: Planning, Argumentative Problem Solving, Application of IBIS, Collaborative Work, Capturing Resolution, Expanding Hypertext, Disorientation, and Decision Making.
__________________________________
Published in: Mutah Lil-Buhuth Wad-Dirasat, Jordan. 2007
ISSN 1022-6812, Volume (22) Number (2) 2007, pp 63 – 80.
(7)
Enhancing a COTS Software Quality Model with New Attributes and Metrics
Adnan Ahmad Rawashdeh and Bassem Mohammad Matalkah
IT Department, Faculty of Science, Mutah University, P.O. Box 7,
Mutah 61710, Karak, Jordan.
Integrating Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components to build a new software system continues to be one of the fastest growing methods in system development. However, the process of evaluating and selecting such products is still a challenge because of the "black box" nature of COTS components, the rapid change in marketplace and the requirement flexibility. This contribution enhances a previously introduced dedicated software quality model for evaluating COTS components. The enhancements include: identifying new attributes for the quality sub-characteristics in the model, and defining metrics rules in an attempt to measure the quality of these new attributes. In addition, this paper provides a review of several existing methods used for selecting COTS components, and outlines their disadvantages with respect to our enhanced model.
Key Words: COTS, CISD, OTSO, STACE, PORE, Attributes.
______________________________________
Published in: Mutah Lil-Buhuth Wad-Dirasat, Jordan. 2006
ISSN 1022-6812, Volume (22) Number (2) 2007, pp 101 – 127.
(8)
Department of IT, Faculty of Computer Science, Mutah University,
P.O.Box 7, Mutah 61710 , Jordan.
Abstract
Building new software systems using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products is characterized by saving development time and cost. This is true if the process of evaluating and selecting the appropriate COTS product is simplified and proven to be efficient. A new software quality model dedicated to COTS products reuse has been developed. The model has recently been enhanced through expanding its quality attributes and defining metrics to measure these attributes. In this paper, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is adopted and applied to our software quality model as a decision-making tool in order to carryout an empirical study, two alternative database systems have been evaluated in order to choose the most appropriate one for building an e-learning application, and the outcome is promising; the enhanced model succeeded in evaluating and projecting the wining database according to user-requirement.
Keywords: COTS, Oracle 9i SQL Server 2005.
______________________________________
Published in: Mutah Lil-Buhuth Wad-Dirasat, Jordan. 2008
ISSN 1022-6812, Volume (22) Number (3) 2007, pp 129 – 164.