The Role of Context in Exception-Driven Rework

Exception-driven rework occurs commonly in software development. In this paper, we describe a simple refactoring process, showing the use of the exception-driven rework exception handling pattern within it. We also discuss the important role that context plays in supporting the user during rework in helping the user keep track of the tasks being worked on and to facilitate resumption of normal activities upon completion of the exception handling work. The example process is specified in the Little-JIL process definition language. The use of context information in supporting the user is illustrated using a Data Derivation Graph (DDG), a graph that is automatically generated to document the ways in which artifact values are evolved during execution of a Little-JIL process.