RISE Editor
Encyclopedia
The RISE Editor is a free information modeling tool for information system development based on model driven development. Functionality includes automatic interface composition, database generation and updates, data insertion, programming interface publishing and web service
generation. The modeling takes place in Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD)
. The layout for these diagrams can be changed to Relational Database
or Unified Modeling Language (UML)
, the functionality stays the same though.
tool with semantics and functionality that is specialized for the application-domain of information systems. The model in RISE is more than an information model
, it's an information model
complete with the methods needed to govern the use of the information in the model. Such a model is referred to as a MIM, or managed information model. Using code generators
a managed information model is automatically transformed into a system. All in all, this is what's commonly referred to as a model-driven architecture
.
A domain is a suitable candidate for model-driven engineering
if different solutions for the domain show noticeable similarities. A good MDE
tool is one that focuses on and addresses these similarities whereas a bad MDE
tool is one that diverts attentions from the problem domain. The domain of RISE, information systems in the sense of database-centric systems managing business information, is an obvious candidate for MDE
. Below are some examples on how RISE boosts efficiency and simplicity in the engineering process simply by adhering to the specifics of the domain.
The DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself)
principle states that "every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system". In essence, unnecessary duplication of information - such as business logics, rules, configuration et c. - decreases clarity and predictability of a system. Redundancy always poses a risk of causing inconsistencies and contradictions. This said, DRY
is actually one of those principles that all skilled developers adhere to even though some might be unfamiliar with the term itself.
RISE can be envisioned as a modeling tool implementing the DRY
principle for information system engineering. For sure, in a RISE model everything has a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation. But it doesn't stop there, RISE unleashes the positive effects of not repeating oneself: guaranteed consistency and automated changes. When an authoritative information source is changed in your model, RISE automatically cascades that change throughout the model, updating anything and everything that depends on the source.
This combination of a theoretically sound foundation and simple pragmatism together with its being freeware is probably the reason for its increased popularity in higher education within the domains of system development and information modeling. It is today used at e.g. Bundeswehr University Munich, Universität Zürich, and Università di Bologna.
for transforming RISE models into software. A RISE code generator
is a separate software application that operates on a RISE model (XML
file) and produces some kind of output. There are two main categories of code generators
: database script generators and application source code generators.
RISE code generators
can be launched in several different ways:
Database script generators
The database code generators
write incremental scripts for creating, and updating, relational database
models based on the RISE model. A RISE model contains - unless it's been refactored - the entire life-cycle of the data model. The code generator
translates this life-cycle into an incremental database specific script. Currently, code generators
for SQL Server
, MySQL
and PostgreSQL
are available.
Application source code generators
The application source code generators render code, in a particular programming language, for working with databases based on the same RISE model. The generated code includes classes for managing database access and for publishing the access layer as web service
s. Both SOAP
and JSON
style web service
s are supported. Currently, two languages are supported C# (.NET) and PHP
. The C# for ODBC
code generator
outputs code handling three databases (SQL Server
, MySQL
and PostgreSQL
). For PHP
there are two different code generators
, PHP
for MySQL
and PHP
for PostgreSQL
, creating source code using the respective database native driver.
There is also an AJAX
code generator
for RISE. It renders JavaScript
source code, that uses jQuery
, for accessing JSON
enabled web service
s in Rich Internet Applications
or AJAX
applications. The generated code is compliant with any JSON
enabled web service
, .NET as well as PHP
, generated from the same RISE model.
1) The utility tool and import functionality works with most ODBC
compliant databases. Note, this includes databases for which there are, currently, no code generators
.
Web service
A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
generation. The modeling takes place in Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD)
Entity-relationship model
In software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
. The layout for these diagrams can be changed to Relational Database
Relational database
A relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
or Unified Modeling Language (UML)
Unified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
, the functionality stays the same though.
Philosophy of RISE
The purpose of RISE is to make information system engineering a more manageable process. Technically speaking, RISE is a model-driven engineering (MDE)Model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
tool with semantics and functionality that is specialized for the application-domain of information systems. The model in RISE is more than an information model
Information model
An information model in software engineering is a representation of concepts, relationships, constraints, rules, and operations to specify data semantics for a chosen domain of discourse...
, it's an information model
Information model
An information model in software engineering is a representation of concepts, relationships, constraints, rules, and operations to specify data semantics for a chosen domain of discourse...
complete with the methods needed to govern the use of the information in the model. Such a model is referred to as a MIM, or managed information model. Using code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
a managed information model is automatically transformed into a system. All in all, this is what's commonly referred to as a model-driven architecture
Model-driven architecture
Model-driven architecture is a software design approach for the development of software systems. It provides a set of guidelines for the structuring of specifications, which are expressed as models. Model-driven architecture is a kind of domain engineering, and supports model-driven engineering of...
.
A domain is a suitable candidate for model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
if different solutions for the domain show noticeable similarities. A good MDE
Model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
tool is one that focuses on and addresses these similarities whereas a bad MDE
Model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
tool is one that diverts attentions from the problem domain. The domain of RISE, information systems in the sense of database-centric systems managing business information, is an obvious candidate for MDE
Model-driven engineering
Model-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
. Below are some examples on how RISE boosts efficiency and simplicity in the engineering process simply by adhering to the specifics of the domain.
- Information modelInformation modelAn information model in software engineering is a representation of concepts, relationships, constraints, rules, and operations to specify data semantics for a chosen domain of discourse...
s are drawn in and shown using Entity Relationship DiagramsEntity-relationship modelIn software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
. This is a space efficient and unambiguous way to represent an information model. ER doesn't introduce any constructs or abstractions that aren't native in the world of information modeling.
- Method modeling is based on the fact that methods operate on an information model, i.e. ER, elements. This allows the creation and maintenance of basic methods to be automated and it reduces the construction of higher level methods to sheer drag-and-drop.
- Databases are incrementally updated during code generationAutomatic programmingIn computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
, assuring sync with the modeling project while preserving the current data. Actually, this could be seen as a requirement for efficient model-driven engineeringModel-driven engineeringModel-driven engineering is a software development methodology which focuses on creating and exploiting domain models , rather than on the computing concepts...
in the information system domain.
The DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself)
Don't repeat yourself
In software engineering, Don't Repeat Yourself is a principle of software development aimed at reducing repetition of information of all kinds, especially useful in multi-tier architectures...
principle states that "every piece of knowledge must have a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation within a system". In essence, unnecessary duplication of information - such as business logics, rules, configuration et c. - decreases clarity and predictability of a system. Redundancy always poses a risk of causing inconsistencies and contradictions. This said, DRY
Don't repeat yourself
In software engineering, Don't Repeat Yourself is a principle of software development aimed at reducing repetition of information of all kinds, especially useful in multi-tier architectures...
is actually one of those principles that all skilled developers adhere to even though some might be unfamiliar with the term itself.
RISE can be envisioned as a modeling tool implementing the DRY
Don't repeat yourself
In software engineering, Don't Repeat Yourself is a principle of software development aimed at reducing repetition of information of all kinds, especially useful in multi-tier architectures...
principle for information system engineering. For sure, in a RISE model everything has a single, unambiguous, authoritative representation. But it doesn't stop there, RISE unleashes the positive effects of not repeating oneself: guaranteed consistency and automated changes. When an authoritative information source is changed in your model, RISE automatically cascades that change throughout the model, updating anything and everything that depends on the source.
This combination of a theoretically sound foundation and simple pragmatism together with its being freeware is probably the reason for its increased popularity in higher education within the domains of system development and information modeling. It is today used at e.g. Bundeswehr University Munich, Universität Zürich, and Università di Bologna.
Code Generation
The RISE suit provides a range of code generatorsAutomatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
for transforming RISE models into software. A RISE code generator
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
is a separate software application that operates on a RISE model (XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
file) and produces some kind of output. There are two main categories of code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
: database script generators and application source code generators.
RISE code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
can be launched in several different ways:
- As an integrated part of the RISE Editor.
- As a standalone application.
- Using a script or from command line.
Database script generators
The database code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
write incremental scripts for creating, and updating, relational database
Relational database
A relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
models based on the RISE model. A RISE model contains - unless it's been refactored - the entire life-cycle of the data model. The code generator
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
translates this life-cycle into an incremental database specific script. Currently, code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
for SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
, MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
and PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
are available.
Application source code generators
The application source code generators render code, in a particular programming language, for working with databases based on the same RISE model. The generated code includes classes for managing database access and for publishing the access layer as web service
Web service
A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
s. Both SOAP
SOAP
SOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
and JSON
JSON
JSON , or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript scripting language for representing simple data structures and associative arrays, called objects...
style web service
Web service
A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
s are supported. Currently, two languages are supported C# (.NET) and PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
. The C# for ODBC
Open Database Connectivity
In computing, ODBC is a standard C interface for accessing database management systems . The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of database systems and operating systems...
code generator
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
outputs code handling three databases (SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
, MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
and PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
). For PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
there are two different code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
, PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
for MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
and PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
for PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
, creating source code using the respective database native driver.
There is also an AJAX
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
code generator
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
for RISE. It renders JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
source code, that uses jQuery
JQuery
jQuery is a cross-browser JavaScript library designed to simplify the client-side scripting of HTML. It was released in January 2006 at BarCamp NYC by John Resig...
, for accessing JSON
JSON
JSON , or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript scripting language for representing simple data structures and associative arrays, called objects...
enabled web service
Web service
A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
s in Rich Internet Applications
Rich Internet application
A Rich Internet Application is a Web application that has many of the characteristics of desktop application software, typically delivered either by way of a site-specific browser, via a browser plug-in, independent sandboxes, extensive use of JavaScript, or virtual machines...
or AJAX
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
applications. The generated code is compliant with any JSON
JSON
JSON , or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript scripting language for representing simple data structures and associative arrays, called objects...
enabled web service
Web service
A Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
, .NET as well as PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
, generated from the same RISE model.
Major features
- Graphical modeling using:
- Entity Relationship DiagramsEntity-relationship modelIn software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
in Information Engineering notation (crow’s foot) - UML (Unified Modeling Language)Unified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
-style class diagram - Relational DatabaseRelational databaseA relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
Diagrams
- Entity Relationship Diagrams
- Collaborative features such as:
- Deployment directly in database
- Deployment directly on web site
- Multiple developers using a centralized server
- Relational databaseRelational databaseA relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
generators for creating and incrementally updating of:- SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
- PostgreSQLPostgreSQLPostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
- MySQLMySQLMySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
- SQL Server
- Application code generatorAutomatic programmingIn computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
s for persistent layer, programming interface, web services:- C# for ODBCOpen Database ConnectivityIn computing, ODBC is a standard C interface for accessing database management systems . The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of database systems and operating systems...
supporting Microsofts JSONJSONJSON , or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight text-based open standard designed for human-readable data interchange. It is derived from the JavaScript scripting language for representing simple data structures and associative arrays, called objects...
-mechanism - PHPPHPPHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
for MySQLMySQLMySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My... - PHPPHPPHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
for PostgreSQLPostgreSQLPostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software... - AJAXAjax (programming)Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
- C# for ODBC
- Miscellaneous
- Refactoring
- Model consistency
- Automatic model documentation
- web serviceWeb serviceA Web service is a method of communication between two electronic devices over the web.The W3C defines a "Web service" as "a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". It has an interface described in a machine-processable format...
test utility - Drag-n-drop to aggregate methods
- Custom code method support
- Modeling and code generation convention handling
- Database schema import
- Data manager for embedding configuration data in models
- Embedded SQL utility tool for browsing and analyzing SQL databases(1) directly from within RISE.
1) The utility tool and import functionality works with most ODBC
Open Database Connectivity
In computing, ODBC is a standard C interface for accessing database management systems . The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of database systems and operating systems...
compliant databases. Note, this includes databases for which there are, currently, no code generators
Automatic programming
In computer science, the term automatic programming identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program to allow human programmers to write the code at a higher abstraction level....
.
External links
- RISE to Bloome Software — Official website