| Software tools form an integral part of any software development system. These tools, e.g. compilers, editors, source code managers, version control systems, etc., are a continual object of research and development. This effort is justified by the increased productivity experienced by programmers and systems analysts when given more powerful tools, particularly when those improved tools operate in a more ergonomic manner.;This dissertation describes a characterization of possible levels of tool integration and some techniques that can achieve such an integration. The characterization provides a method of evaluating tools to determine their potential for tool integration. The feasibility of the techniques have been demonstrated by an implementation which involves the integration of an existing C compiler and a symbolic debugger into the TRIAD software environment.;The sophistication of current tools implies that they constitute a major expense. To protect such an investment, it is appropriate, and often necessary, to extend the productive life of each tool. One approach to this is to integrate existing tools into the software development environment. Integration, in this context, represents a level of cooperation and communication which can improve both the quality of the tool's interaction with the user and increase the power of the tool. |
