CASE tools are software that assist in software development, allowing for error-free and easy-to-maintain code. They can be used throughout the development cycle, with benefits including improved design and code reuse, and fewer errors. CASE tools are increasingly critical in today’s complex and geographically dispersed software development environment.
In information technology, a computer aided system engineering (CASE) tool is software that assists in software development. The main purpose of using a CASE tool is to produce error-free and easy-to-maintain program code. It also allows users to develop software systems faster than would be possible without the use of such a tool.
CASE tools can be used throughout the information system development cycle, in areas as diverse as project management, business requirements analysis, system analysis and design, programming, and quality assurance. While a CASE tool can be used at any stage of development, the tools are most commonly used in the system design and computer programming stages. These tools began to be developed in the 1970s, building on trends in hardware manufacturing processes. Software development methodologies were not well established at the time, and CASE tools added structure and rigor to the software development process.
A CASE tool often allows developers to program visually and to use object-oriented programming (OOP) methods. A Unified Markup Language (UML) design tool is an example of a CASE tool. System design documents and program code can be generated by the tool as part of the visual design, thus reducing development time and increasing document and code accuracy.
Using a CASE tool for software development has many benefits, especially when implemented for each stage of the development cycle. Overall, the tools support structured systems design and computer programming using an organized methodology, which improves design and code reuse. With a comprehensive implementation of CASE tools, business requirements for the system are documented and tracked, making it easy to verify that every system requirement has been implemented and tested. The finished system should have fewer programming errors. While some stages of the development cycle may take longer, such as requirements analysis, the overall process should be faster than developing without the tools.
Several trends highlight the need for software development teams to achieve these benefits. Computer applications are becoming increasingly complex and therefore more difficult to understand and manage. Multiple software development teams are geographically dispersed and members may work in different time zones and for different companies. High system development costs and the need to reduce time to market add pressure to the development process. With this mix of challenges, implementing a CASE tool has become increasingly critical to a successful software development process.
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