An open architecture for tool and process integration

The SoftBench Framework is a set of software services that allows tools and processes to be tied together into an integrated, distributed environment. The Framework allows tools that were created as stand-alone applications to be encapsulated, or plugged-in, without source code modification. These encapsulated tools can then communicate with each other to become a part of a user´s task or overall process. The SoftBench Framework allows tasks to be created by the user, quickly and easily. As each user´s needs change, the tasks can evolve to meet these needs. This work describes the technical aspects and architecture of the SoftBench Framework, and how these services allow customers to create integrated software environments