Checking for Architecture Conformance

Sotoarc determines where the source code does not correspond to the designed architecture for the entire software system and then provides visualizations of the architecture violations using graphs.

From the very beginning of the architecture model definition process, the evolving model is checked continuously against the implemented code. Illegal dependencies are shown in red. The architecture violations are immediately updated after every modification of the architecture model. Architecture violations can be investigated by zooming through the abstraction levels down to the source code causing the problem.

Sotograph, a separate tool, makes it possible to compare the architecture violations of different versions of the software system. The user can identify new and removed architecture violations and explore long-term trends. The Sotoweb and Sotoreport add-on tools provide further means to visualize and investigate trend related information.