We have used the Problem Frames approach to teach software requirements analysis in an undergraduate software engineering setting for several years. Its lightweight formalism is rigorous without being intimidating, and its clarity and precision foster critical inquiry and careful reasoning among students. To guide newcomers to Problem Frames, and to aid experienced students in tackling larger problems, we have created a Java-based editor tool called PFEdit to construct and manipulate Problem Frame documents. This tool helps students visualize key Problem Frame concepts and directs them toward well-formed documents.
| PFEdit executable | (Java archive (.jar) file; requires Java 5) |
| PFEdit users' guide | HTML file |
| Sample PFEdit document: Patient monitoring & dosage problem | PFEdit document |
| Introductory presentation on Problem Frames | PDF document |
This work is part of the Speaking of Software
project
Supported by NSF Award #CCF-0417548