CIS 375 Case Tool Evaluation

For this assignment, you will need to locate product reviews or demonstration copies of CASE tools (the world wide web is a good source). You are to write a 3 to 5 page report evaluating a one of the tools you identify as meeting the criteria described below. You may do your research with 1 or 2 lab partners, but you each must write your own report summarizing your evaluation of the product.

The CIS department would like to purchase a CASE tool for student use in CIS 375, 426, and 495. Your task is to identify an MS-DOS/Windows, MacIntosh, or UNIX CASE tool whose cost is $500 or for a single copy or $2,000 or less for a server site license. Ideally this tool should support several design methodologies and do more than simply draw DFD’s or their equivalents. Code generation is desirable, but not required. The ability to track specifications over the life of the design is very important, as is ease of learning and use. We are interested in professional quality tools, not toys. Dr. Modesitt and I have several tools we can lend you to try (but most do not meet the needs of our students).

Your product evaluation report should contain: a list of the criteria used to select the specific product, the platform required (hardware and software), its cost, the major features of the tool, design methodologies supported, and the software life-cycle phases supported. Your report is due two weeks from today.