Object-oriented methodology for Marine Corps software development

de Robert F. Padilla

This thesis answers three questions: What is object-oriented development methodology and why is it good for the Marine Corps? How is object- oriented methodology different from what the Marine Corps is doing now? What should the Marine Corps do and when should they do it? To explore these issues, this thesis designed a typical Marine Corps application (a COmpany Personnel System (COPS)) using both Systems Development Methodology (SDM) and Object Modeling Technique (OMT). These methodologies are compared in terms of case of maintenance, understandability, extendibility, inheritance, and database integration. It is good for the Marine Corps because it helps developers and customers express abstract concepts clearly. OMT and SDM differ in their approach to system organization: OMT around real-world objects, while SDM around functionality, The Marine Corps should immediately change its paradigm from SDM to OMT. SDM's Functional Requirements Definition, General Design Specification, and Detailed Design Specification will have to he replaced with OMT's Analysis, System Design, and Object Design respectively.