Software tools

ING aims to provide as many effective tools as possible to aid software development, transfer and maintenance. The software tools fall into three broad categories:

• Templates - It is intended to provide on-line templates for documentation and coding style. Function libraries may also be provided for standard function wrap-arounds, where necessary.
• Checking - Tools will be provided to automate the checking of delivered code for ANSI compliance, memory usage, and function argument usage. Some of these tools may be provided as non-proprietary function libraries for use by developers.
• Metrics - Tools to derive maintainability metrics for delivered source code will be provided. These tools will be used during the transfer of developed software to ING.

These software tools will be provided centrally at ING. Those tools which are not proprietary will be freely available for use at other institutions involved in development. Accounts on ING computers will be made available for developers to use any of the ING software tools.

It is expected that software design tools, i.e. CASE tools, will be used by developers. For reference, the CASE tool Teamwork is in use at RGO and ING. The use of other tools is fully acceptable. Software development projects are responsible for the purchase and utilisation of these tools.

ING will provide a networked project management infrastructure for projects in separate institutions to communicate effectively. Lotus Notes is currently being investigated for use in this context. It is expected that this infrastructure will provide the facilities for a centralised bug report database during development as well as other project-related use.