Software restructuring by enforcing localization and information hiding

It is shown how the semantic basis underlying modern system structure constructs (supported in languages such as Ada and C++) can be used to simplify the understanding of software written in conventional imperative languages. The restructuring technique analyzes the input source code system into a hierarchical system structure that exploits information hiding and localization properties. This hierarchical view will help to accurately identify a component's dependencies and visibility relationships with other system subcomponents. Besides obvious understandability and maintainability benefits, this form of restructure offers a convenient framework for translating conventional languages into languages that support modularity, abstract data types, and hierarchical system structure. The current restructuring tool has been successfully applied to an antisubmarine warfare subsystem.<
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