A fuzzy-AHP-based approach to select software architecture based on quality attributes (FASSA)

The software system design phase has recently received increasing attention due to continuous growth in both the size and complexity of software systems. As a key concept of this phase, software architecture plays an important role in the software extension cycle to the extent that the success of a software project is often determined by the degree of its design efficiency. In addition, software architecture evaluation is a fundamental step toward its subsequent validation. This paper is an attempt to propose an innovative method, based on fuzzy logic, to evaluate software architecture that addresses the inherent problems of existing methods found in the literature. The method can be used for complete design or even reconstruction of the architecture. Given the multi-faceted nature of the problem of evaluation and selection of an optimal architecture, we have employed a multi-objective decision technique, namely fuzzy hierarchical analysis process, which solves the problems associated with uncertainties and inaccuracies by incorporating fuzzy logic.