8.10.2.  Tree Based System Exploration

The Exploration view offers the possibility of using a tree representation to learn about the structure and interdependencies among the structural elements of the software system :

Exploration View
Figure 8.26. Exploration View

Typical questions are:

  • What are the dependencies between some layers, subsystems, packages or types?

  • What is the reason for some unexpected dependency?

  • How can one decouple a given pair of package trees?

  • Where is package X or file Y located in the package tree?

The exploration view provides a number of means supporting you to:

  • Get an overview of your software system on a high abstraction level.

  • Drill down to answer specific questions.

  • Zoom in and out of the Sonargraph model tree by expanding and collapsing nodes.

  • Define focus so that irrelevant information is hidden.