Visualization of Component-Based Applications Structure Using AIVA

The architecture of component-based applications can easily contain hundreds of components with a complex structure. Such structure is created from various types of relations between these components. However, component architects and assemblers need to study more than just simple structure in order to be able to analyze these applications. Many details might be necessary to check to ensure compatibility and re-usability of existing components. Thus, comprehensible visualization of structure is important for the maintenance and evolution of these complex systems. AIVA is the implementation of an approach that is able to visualize these structures comprehensibly while making details easy to reach. It combines various interactive techniques to achieve this goal. This paper describes the possibilities of AIVA as they are implemented, while briefly discussing the theory behind such functionality.