Hi all,
We've a graduation position for the following project:
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Title: "Domain descriptions & execution platforms"
1) Problem
Current dependencies between business domain descriptions and execution platform make our software product less flexible in using alternative execution platforms.
2) Research question
How to increase flexibility in using alternative execution platforms for our business domain descriptions?
3) Research goal
Research if and how our current business domain descriptions can be executed on an alternative execution platform (e.g. Java, Python).
4) Context
In our system the business domain is described in a high level of abstraction. The general idea is to enable our "business modelers" to describe their knowledge about the business domain within this high level of abstraction. They do not have to worry about all kinds of implementation aspects such as persistency, user interface technologies, classes, variables, referential integrity, etc, because the code for these technical aspects is automatically generated from the business domain descriptions.
The business domain descriptions, the code generators as well as most part of the generated code is expressed in the programming language Smalltalk (VisualWorks).
Even though we're very happy with our approach and with Smalltalk, we realize there are possibilities for a stricter boundary between business domain descriptions and execution platform. This will give us more flexibility in choosing different (potentially more interesting) deployment strategies.
A student could research if and how our current business domain model descriptions can be executed on an alternative execution platform (e.g. Java, Python). This research might conclude other platforms are not easily supported, because certain constructions in our current descriptions are to Smalltalk specific. In such a case, it should be made clear what the consequences are to remove the Smalltalk dependencies from our current business domain descriptions.
5) About AG5
We are a small company (6 people, of which 5 developers). We believe our in-house base-technology R&D and our use of a dynamic and reflective development language (Smalltalk) help us being very successful in a competitive market. Since our start in the December 2005, we are focused on development and sales of one product: a people's skills & schedule management system for fire-, health care-, safety departments. More than 100 governmental institutions work daily with our web-based system.
One of our developers is a former computer science teacher with experience in assisting students for their graduation.
When you are interested in doing your research or work within our company, let us know! Send your email with motivation to mathieu at ag5 . nl.
Greetings,
Mathieu van Echtelt
www.ag5.nl Amsterdam, the Netherlands
On 28/11/2008, at 09:54, Mathieu van Echtelt wrote:
A student could research if and how our current business domain model descriptions can be executed on an alternative execution platform (e.g. Java, Python). This research might conclude other platforms are not easily supported, because certain constructions in our current descriptions are to Smalltalk specific. In such a case, it should be made clear what the consequences are to remove the Smalltalk dependencies from our current business domain descriptions.
So you lost faith.
Believing Java or Python solves some and Smalltalk not put you almost out of Our Magic Kingdom :=)
I not saying you can't got more money with your choice...
Edgar
squeak-dev@lists.squeakfoundation.org