1988 Reports

Tool Extension in an ALOE Editor

Ishizuka, Takahisa

Many approaches to tool integration can be seen as variations on two models, the "sequential: and "concurrent." "Sequential" models are characterized by a high degree of modularity. In this model, tools execute in sequence and work on separate data structures. "Concurrent" models are characterized by the ability to interleave the execution of various tools. Here, tools work on a common data structure. This thesis describes AMPE (A Manufacturing Programming Environment) which consists of two tools integrated in a way that has advantages from both models. The execution of both tools can be interleaved, but they use separate data structures and maintain a degree of modularity. AMPE consists of an ALOE structure editor, which has been extended to work with an interpreter for the programming language, AML/X. The two tools run as separate processes and communicate through message passing.