Evaluating the use of ADLs in component-based development

In this paper we evaluate the use of software architectures in the development of component-based systems. The evaluation is based on the level of support provided by the software architectures formal representatives, namely ADLs, for four established component-based development principles. Specifically, we will describe and evaluate three representative ADLs: ACME, Unicon and Rapide. For each of the above ADLs we give a brief introduction to its purpose, capabilities and special features, and describe the semantics of its main building constructs.