Software Architecture: Connectors

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary role associated with connectors in software architecture?

Facilitation

Coordination

Communication (correct)

Conversion

What do connectors influence in a software system?

Neither functional nor non-functional system characteristics

Non-functional system characteristics (correct)

Only functional system characteristics

Functional system characteristics

What is an example of a communication mechanism supported by connectors?

Message passing (correct)

Query processing

Interrupt handling

Polling

What do connectors separate in a software system?

Computation from communication Signup and view all the answers

What type of specification may define a connector's properties?

Explicit protocol Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic that connectors can mediate?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of connectors in software architecture?

To enable interaction of independently developed components Signup and view all the answers

What type of connector is responsible for mediating interaction and governing access to shared information?

Facilitator Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a coordinator connector?

To separate control from computation Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a converter connector?

Adaptor Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a facilitator connector?

To enable interaction between independently developed components Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a linkage connector?

To enable data access between components Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of first-class entities in software architectures?

They have identity and describe all system interaction Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between connectors and components in software architectures?

Components are used for application-specific functionality, while connectors are used for interaction abstraction Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of treating connectors independently in software architectures?

It separates computation from interaction Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of connectors that provide application-independent interaction mechanisms?

They are entitled to their own specifications and abstractions Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of localizing interaction definition in software architectures?

Component interaction flexibility is increased Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of using first-class connectors in software architectures at the system level?

It aids system analysis and testing Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Procedure Call Connectors in software architecture?

To facilitate communication between components through procedure calls Signup and view all the answers

Which type of connector is responsible for handling events generated by components?

Event Connectors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Arbitrator Connectors in software architecture?

To resolve conflicts between components Signup and view all the answers

Which type of connector is used to manage data streams between components?

Stream Connectors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of Linkage Connectors in software architecture?

To provide a linkage mechanism for components Signup and view all the answers

Which type of connector is used to provide a data access mechanism for components?

Data Access Connectors Signup and view all the answers

What do unit interconnection models capture?

Dependency relationships between system units Signup and view all the answers

What type of interconnection model is concerned with how system components are meant to be used?

Semantic interconnection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a unit interconnection model?

Determining context of compilation Signup and view all the answers

What type of relationships are captured by syntactic interconnection models?

Relations among syntactic elements of programming languages Signup and view all the answers

What is a common application of syntactic interconnection models?

Static analysis Signup and view all the answers

What do the three types of interconnection models (unit, syntactic, semantic) have in common?

They are all present in each system Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Connectors in Software Architecture

Connectors are first-class entities in software architecture that describe all system interactions and have their own specifications and abstractions.

Roles of Connectors

Coordinators: determine computation control, control delivery of data, and separate control from computation.
Converters: enable interaction of independently developed, mismatched components by converting data types, formats, and protocols.
Facilitators: enable interaction of components intended to interoperate, govern access to shared information, and provide synchronization mechanisms.

Types of Connectors

Procedure Call Connectors
Event Connectors
Data Access Connectors
Linkage Connectors
Stream Connectors
Arbitrator Connectors
Adaptors
Wrappers
Distributors

Characteristics of Connectors

Can be classified based on their roles, types, and properties.
Can be treated independently, allowing for localization of interaction definition, component independence, and flexibility.
Can support software evolution, dynamism, and heterogeneity.

Software Interconnection Models

Unit Interconnection: defines relations between system units, such as dependencies between components.
Syntactic Interconnection: describes relations among syntactic elements of programming languages, such as variable definitions and method invocations.
Semantic Interconnection: expresses how system components are meant to be used and captures how system components are actually used.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the concept of connectors in software architectures, including their role as first-class entities, interaction abstraction, and parameterization. It also explains the reasons for treating connectors independently in software design.