Construção de serviços de colaboração em um ecossistema de software científico

Abstract

[Context] Complex scientific experiments involve the use of distributed data and resources that require the collaboration of several researchers. Considering that they comprise geographically distributed researchers, the conduction of an experiment can be characterized by a scientific experimentation ecosystem in which distributed research groups interact by exchanging information to perform an experiment. In this context, the E-SECO platform implements a software scientific ecosystem approach in order to support the development of services that support the distributed experimentation among groups of researchers. However, it is not enough to only offer collaboration features to support the development of services by different groups. It is also necessary to support its activities considering the context of each of group and their needs, as well as the mechanisms that compose a software ecosystem. [Objective] Thus, the objective of this study is to address the lack of a process to support the development of such collaboration services to consider information on the context of each group. In particular, groups which utilize a scientific platform software ecosystem. [Method] Therefore, this work presents two strategies: (i) a process for the development of collaborative services that considers the Software Product Line and a Service Oriented Architecture, and (ii) a mechanism to support the alignment between collaboration services considering the need of them to interoperate. [Results] Experiments were performed in order to verify the feasibility of the solution. From the proposed process, it is possible to provide collaboration services that fulfill the requirements of each research group and, with the support mechanism for the alignment of its concepts, it is possible to enhance the interoperability of software ecosystems. As contributions it can be cited: present a process for the development of collaboration services, and offer a mechanism to support the alignment between collaboration services.