Distributed Collaborative Modeling Support System Associating UML Diagrams with Chat Messages

With the advancement of network technology and globalization of business, distributed software development has become in common. Along with this trend, distributed synchronous collaborative modeling support systems have been proposed. This study points out two issues traditional systems have; they donpsilat relate conversations with model diagrams, and they canpsilat replay histories of modeling by associating contents of conversations with elements of model diagrams. The authors developed a distributed synchronous collaborative modeling support system for UML diagrams, called Libra-on-Chat, which solved the issues. As the results of an experiment, the system allowed participants to focus on elements in a diagram under discussion. It also enabled developers to grasp design rationale in review.