WWW/Internet - Portal do Software Público Brasileiro

IADIS International Conference WWW/Internet 2010Figure 1. Modeling dimensions for web application. adapted from (Retschitzegger and Schwinger, 2000).The fundamental aspect related to this proposal is WEBFDM, -Web application Flexible DevelopmentMethodology- based on MVC architectural pattern. The method is supported by a CASE Tool –COHESIÓN.At this moment, both methodology and CASE Tool are used to design and implement Web applications atUniversidad Simón Bolívar (Caracas). COHESIÓN is a Web application developed with WebFDM andCOHESIÓN itself. It actually host around 300 designs including student projects, and complete Webapplications.The generic development process as proposed in WebFDM is shown in Fig. 2, and consists of thefollowing phases:• Web Project Characterization, which includes the evaluation of project conditions and thedevelopment situation.• Requirements Elicitation and Specification;• Conceptual Design, which includes Data Design, Functional Design (to accomplish the transactionrequirements), Navigation Design, Interface Design and Information Architecture;• Implementation;• Testing and Validation;• Evolution and Maintenance Plan Design.Figure 2. The generic development process in WebFDMThe life-cycle model specifies the sequencing of processes and products involved in the development ofan application. WebFDM follows the iterative and incremental process model, so in each increment thedesigner builds or enriches the products created; at each iteration the current design version is tested and thenit is possible to modify or extend the achieved product.WEBFDM was conceived as an agile methodology, and while using it and COHESIÓN, we noted the needto incorporate extensions in order to provide guidance to designers. Based on the fact that any development429