Author: Mohamed Fayad
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351645676
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 574
Book Description
Attention to design patterns is unquestionably growing in software engineering because there is a strong belief that using made to measure solutions for solving frequently occurring problems encountered throughout the design phase greatly reduces the total cost and the time of developing software products. Stable Design Patterns for Software and Systems presents a new and fresh approach for creating stable, reusable, and widely applicable design patterns. It deals with the concept of stable design patterns based on software stability as a contemporary approach for building stable and highly reusable and widely applicable design patterns. This book shows that a formation approach to discovering and creating stable design patterns accords with Alexander’s current understanding of architectural patterns. Stable design patterns are a type of knowledge pattern that underline human problem solving methods and appeal to the pattern community. This book examines software design patterns with respect to four central themes: How do we develop a solution for the problem through software stability concepts? This book offers a direct application of using software stability concepts for modeling solutions. How do we achieve software stability over time and design patterns that are effective to use? What are the unique roles of stable design patterns in modeling the accurate solution of the problem at hand and in providing stable and undisputed design for such problems? This book enumerates a complete and domain-less list of stable patterns that are useful for designing and modeling solutions for frequently recurring problems. What is the most efficient way to document the stable design patters to ensure efficient reusability? This book is an extension to the contemporary templates that are used in documenting design patterns. This book gives a pragmatic and a novel approach toward understanding the problem domain and in proposing stable solutions for engineering stable software systems, components, and frameworks.
Stable Design Patterns for Software and Systems
Author: Mohamed Fayad
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351645676
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 574
Book Description
Attention to design patterns is unquestionably growing in software engineering because there is a strong belief that using made to measure solutions for solving frequently occurring problems encountered throughout the design phase greatly reduces the total cost and the time of developing software products. Stable Design Patterns for Software and Systems presents a new and fresh approach for creating stable, reusable, and widely applicable design patterns. It deals with the concept of stable design patterns based on software stability as a contemporary approach for building stable and highly reusable and widely applicable design patterns. This book shows that a formation approach to discovering and creating stable design patterns accords with Alexander’s current understanding of architectural patterns. Stable design patterns are a type of knowledge pattern that underline human problem solving methods and appeal to the pattern community. This book examines software design patterns with respect to four central themes: How do we develop a solution for the problem through software stability concepts? This book offers a direct application of using software stability concepts for modeling solutions. How do we achieve software stability over time and design patterns that are effective to use? What are the unique roles of stable design patterns in modeling the accurate solution of the problem at hand and in providing stable and undisputed design for such problems? This book enumerates a complete and domain-less list of stable patterns that are useful for designing and modeling solutions for frequently recurring problems. What is the most efficient way to document the stable design patters to ensure efficient reusability? This book is an extension to the contemporary templates that are used in documenting design patterns. This book gives a pragmatic and a novel approach toward understanding the problem domain and in proposing stable solutions for engineering stable software systems, components, and frameworks.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351645676
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 574
Book Description
Attention to design patterns is unquestionably growing in software engineering because there is a strong belief that using made to measure solutions for solving frequently occurring problems encountered throughout the design phase greatly reduces the total cost and the time of developing software products. Stable Design Patterns for Software and Systems presents a new and fresh approach for creating stable, reusable, and widely applicable design patterns. It deals with the concept of stable design patterns based on software stability as a contemporary approach for building stable and highly reusable and widely applicable design patterns. This book shows that a formation approach to discovering and creating stable design patterns accords with Alexander’s current understanding of architectural patterns. Stable design patterns are a type of knowledge pattern that underline human problem solving methods and appeal to the pattern community. This book examines software design patterns with respect to four central themes: How do we develop a solution for the problem through software stability concepts? This book offers a direct application of using software stability concepts for modeling solutions. How do we achieve software stability over time and design patterns that are effective to use? What are the unique roles of stable design patterns in modeling the accurate solution of the problem at hand and in providing stable and undisputed design for such problems? This book enumerates a complete and domain-less list of stable patterns that are useful for designing and modeling solutions for frequently recurring problems. What is the most efficient way to document the stable design patters to ensure efficient reusability? This book is an extension to the contemporary templates that are used in documenting design patterns. This book gives a pragmatic and a novel approach toward understanding the problem domain and in proposing stable solutions for engineering stable software systems, components, and frameworks.
Stable Analysis Patterns for Systems
Author: Mohamed Fayad
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351774018
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
Software analysis patterns play an important role in reducing the overall cost and compressing the time of software project lifecycles. However, building reusable and stable software analysis patterns is still considered a major and delicate challenge. This book proposes a novel concept for building analysis patterns based on software stability and is a modern approach for building stable, highly reusable, and widely applicable analysis patterns. The book also aims to promote better understanding of problem spaces and discusses how to focus requirements analysis accurately. It demonstrates a new approach to discovering and creating stable analysis patterns (SAPs). This book presents a pragmatic approach to understanding problem domains, utilizing SAPs for any field of knowledge, and modeling stable software systems, components, and frameworks. It helps readers attain the basic knowledge that is needed to analyze and extract analysis patterns from any domain of interest. Readers also learn to master methods to document patterns in an effective, easy, and comprehensible manner. Bringing significant contributions to the field of computing, this book is a unique and comprehensive reference manual on SAPs. It provides insight on handling the understanding of problem spaces and supplies methods and processes to analyze user requirements accurately as well as ways to use SAPs in building myriad cost-effective and highly maintainable systems. The book also shows how to link SAPs to the design phase thereby ensuring a smooth transition between analysis and design.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351774018
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
Software analysis patterns play an important role in reducing the overall cost and compressing the time of software project lifecycles. However, building reusable and stable software analysis patterns is still considered a major and delicate challenge. This book proposes a novel concept for building analysis patterns based on software stability and is a modern approach for building stable, highly reusable, and widely applicable analysis patterns. The book also aims to promote better understanding of problem spaces and discusses how to focus requirements analysis accurately. It demonstrates a new approach to discovering and creating stable analysis patterns (SAPs). This book presents a pragmatic approach to understanding problem domains, utilizing SAPs for any field of knowledge, and modeling stable software systems, components, and frameworks. It helps readers attain the basic knowledge that is needed to analyze and extract analysis patterns from any domain of interest. Readers also learn to master methods to document patterns in an effective, easy, and comprehensible manner. Bringing significant contributions to the field of computing, this book is a unique and comprehensive reference manual on SAPs. It provides insight on handling the understanding of problem spaces and supplies methods and processes to analyze user requirements accurately as well as ways to use SAPs in building myriad cost-effective and highly maintainable systems. The book also shows how to link SAPs to the design phase thereby ensuring a smooth transition between analysis and design.
Software Patterns, Knowledge Maps, and Domain Analysis
Author: Mohamed E. Fayad
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1466571446
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 446
Book Description
Software design patterns are known to play a vital role in enhancing the quality of software systems while reducing development time and cost. However, the use of these design patterns has also been known to introduce problems that can significantly reduce the stability, robustness, and reusability of software. This book introduces a new process fo
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1466571446
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 446
Book Description
Software design patterns are known to play a vital role in enhancing the quality of software systems while reducing development time and cost. However, the use of these design patterns has also been known to introduce problems that can significantly reduce the stability, robustness, and reusability of software. This book introduces a new process fo
Pattern-oriented Analysis and Design
Author: Sherif M. Yacoub
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
ISBN: 9780201776409
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 416
Book Description
- Exploit the significant power of design patterns and make better design decisions with the proven POAD methodology - Improve software quality and reliability while reducing costs and maintenance efforts - Practical case studies and illustrative examples help the reader manage the complexity of software development
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
ISBN: 9780201776409
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 416
Book Description
- Exploit the significant power of design patterns and make better design decisions with the proven POAD methodology - Improve software quality and reliability while reducing costs and maintenance efforts - Practical case studies and illustrative examples help the reader manage the complexity of software development
Object-Oriented Information Systems
Author: Dimitri Konstantas
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3540452427
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 437
Book Description
The conference on Object Oriented Information Systems (OOIS) is now an es- blished international conference where innovative ideas, research, applications, and experiences in the design, development, and use of object oriented infor- tionsystems,fromboththeacademicandindustrialenvironments,arepresented. The ninth OOIS conference was held at the University of Geneva, September 2–5, 2003. The main theme was the Evolution of Object Oriented Information Systems. The papers presented ideas and issues related to the evolution, ad- tability, restructuring, and ?exibility of OOIS. In the context of the conference, ?ve workshops and four tutorials were organized providing a discussion forum for new ideas and including in depth presentations on important “hot” subjects. The three invited speakers of the ninth OOIS conference provided an - ternative view on OOIS and their evolution. Prof. John Mylopoulos (Univ- sity of Toronto and VLDB president) gave the opening presentation entitled “Agent Oriented IS Development” , Dr. Richard Soley (OMG President and CEO) gave the closing presentation entitled “Model Driven Architecture: The Evolution of Object-Oriented Systems?” and Prof. Lina Al-Jadir (American U- versity of Beirut) gave the theme presentation entitled “Once Upon a Time a DTD Evolved into Another DTD...”.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3540452427
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 437
Book Description
The conference on Object Oriented Information Systems (OOIS) is now an es- blished international conference where innovative ideas, research, applications, and experiences in the design, development, and use of object oriented infor- tionsystems,fromboththeacademicandindustrialenvironments,arepresented. The ninth OOIS conference was held at the University of Geneva, September 2–5, 2003. The main theme was the Evolution of Object Oriented Information Systems. The papers presented ideas and issues related to the evolution, ad- tability, restructuring, and ?exibility of OOIS. In the context of the conference, ?ve workshops and four tutorials were organized providing a discussion forum for new ideas and including in depth presentations on important “hot” subjects. The three invited speakers of the ninth OOIS conference provided an - ternative view on OOIS and their evolution. Prof. John Mylopoulos (Univ- sity of Toronto and VLDB president) gave the opening presentation entitled “Agent Oriented IS Development” , Dr. Richard Soley (OMG President and CEO) gave the closing presentation entitled “Model Driven Architecture: The Evolution of Object-Oriented Systems?” and Prof. Lina Al-Jadir (American U- versity of Beirut) gave the theme presentation entitled “Once Upon a Time a DTD Evolved into Another DTD...”.
Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture, A System of Patterns
Author: Frank Buschmann
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118725263
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 501
Book Description
Pattern-oriented software architecture is a new approach to software development. This book represents the progression and evolution of the pattern approach into a system of patterns capable of describing and documenting large-scale applications. A pattern system provides, on one level, a pool of proven solutions to many recurring design problems. On another it shows how to combine individual patterns into heterogeneous structures and as such it can be used to facilitate a constructive development of software systems. Uniquely, the patterns that are presented in this book span several levels of abstraction, from high-level architectural patterns and medium-level design patterns to low-level idioms. The intention of, and motivation for, this book is to support both novices and experts in software development. Novices will gain from the experience inherent in pattern descriptions and experts will hopefully make use of, add to, extend and modify patterns to tailor them to their own needs. None of the pattern descriptions are cast in stone and, just as they are borne from experience, it is expected that further use will feed in and refine individual patterns and produce an evolving system of patterns. Visit our Web Page http://www.wiley.com/compbooks/
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118725263
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 501
Book Description
Pattern-oriented software architecture is a new approach to software development. This book represents the progression and evolution of the pattern approach into a system of patterns capable of describing and documenting large-scale applications. A pattern system provides, on one level, a pool of proven solutions to many recurring design problems. On another it shows how to combine individual patterns into heterogeneous structures and as such it can be used to facilitate a constructive development of software systems. Uniquely, the patterns that are presented in this book span several levels of abstraction, from high-level architectural patterns and medium-level design patterns to low-level idioms. The intention of, and motivation for, this book is to support both novices and experts in software development. Novices will gain from the experience inherent in pattern descriptions and experts will hopefully make use of, add to, extend and modify patterns to tailor them to their own needs. None of the pattern descriptions are cast in stone and, just as they are borne from experience, it is expected that further use will feed in and refine individual patterns and produce an evolving system of patterns. Visit our Web Page http://www.wiley.com/compbooks/
System Assurances
Author: Prashant Johri
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0323902413
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 616
Book Description
System Assurances: Modeling and Management updates on system assurance and performance methods using advanced analytics and understanding of software reliability growth modeling from today's debugging team's point-of-view, along with information on preventive and predictive maintenance and the efficient use of testing resources. The book presents the rapidly growing application areas of systems and software modeling, including intelligent synthetic characters, human-machine interface, menu generators, user acceptance analysis, picture archiving and software systems. Students, research scholars, academicians, scientists and industry practitioners will benefit from the book as it provides better insights into modern related global trends, issues and practices. - Provides software reliability modeling, simulation and optimization - Offers methodologies, tools and practical applications of reliability modeling and resources allocation - Presents cost modeling and optimization associated with complex systems
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0323902413
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 616
Book Description
System Assurances: Modeling and Management updates on system assurance and performance methods using advanced analytics and understanding of software reliability growth modeling from today's debugging team's point-of-view, along with information on preventive and predictive maintenance and the efficient use of testing resources. The book presents the rapidly growing application areas of systems and software modeling, including intelligent synthetic characters, human-machine interface, menu generators, user acceptance analysis, picture archiving and software systems. Students, research scholars, academicians, scientists and industry practitioners will benefit from the book as it provides better insights into modern related global trends, issues and practices. - Provides software reliability modeling, simulation and optimization - Offers methodologies, tools and practical applications of reliability modeling and resources allocation - Presents cost modeling and optimization associated with complex systems
API Design Patterns
Author: JJ Geewax
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1638350337
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 478
Book Description
"A concept-rich book on API design patterns. Deeply engrossing and fun to read." - Satej Sahu, Honeywell API Design Patterns lays out a set of design principles for building internal and public-facing APIs. In API Design Patterns you will learn: Guiding principles for API patterns Fundamentals of resource layout and naming Handling data types for any programming language Standard methods that ensure predictability Field masks for targeted partial updates Authentication and validation methods for secure APIs Collective operations for moving, managing, and deleting data Advanced patterns for special interactions and data transformations API Design Patterns reveals best practices for building stable, user-friendly APIs. These design patterns can be applied to solve common API problems and flexibly altered to fit specific needs. Hands-on examples and relevant cases illustrate patterns for API fundamentals, advanced functionalities, and uncommon scenarios. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the technology APIs are contracts that define how applications, services, and components communicate. API design patterns provide a shared set of best practices, specifications and standards that ensure APIs are reliable and simple for other developers. This book collects and explains the most important patterns from both the API design community and the experts at Google. About the book API Design Patterns lays out a set of principles for building internal and public-facing APIs. Google API expert JJ Geewax presents patterns that ensure your APIs are consistent, scalable, and flexible. You’ll improve the design of the most common APIs, plus discover techniques for tricky edge cases. Precise illustrations, relevant examples, and detailed scenarios make every pattern clear and easy to understand. What's inside Guiding principles for API patterns Fundamentals of resource layout and naming Advanced patterns for special interactions and data transformations A detailed case-study on building an API and adding features About the reader For developers building web and internal APIs in any language. About the author JJ Geewax is a software engineer at Google, focusing on Google Cloud Platform, API design, and real-time payment systems. He is also the author of Manning’s Google Cloud Platform in Action. Table of Contents PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction to APIs 2 Introduction to API design patterns PART 2 DESIGN PRINCIPLES 3 Naming 4 Resource scope and hierarchy 5 Data types and defaults PART 3 FUNDAMENTALS 6 Resource identification 7 Standard methods 8 Partial updates and retrievals 9 Custom methods 10 Long-running operations 11 Rerunnable jobs PART 4 RESOURCE RELATIONSHIPS 12 Singleton sub-resources 13 Cross references 14 Association resources 15 Add and remove custom methods 16 Polymorphism PART 5 COLLECTIVE OPERATIONS 17 Copy and move 18 Batch operations 19 Criteria-based deletion 20 Anonymous writes 21 Pagination 22 Filtering 23 Importing and exporting PART 6 SAFETY AND SECURITY 24 Versioning and compatibility 25 Soft deletion 26 Request deduplication 27 Request validation 28 Resource revisions 29 Request retrial 30 Request authentication
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1638350337
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 478
Book Description
"A concept-rich book on API design patterns. Deeply engrossing and fun to read." - Satej Sahu, Honeywell API Design Patterns lays out a set of design principles for building internal and public-facing APIs. In API Design Patterns you will learn: Guiding principles for API patterns Fundamentals of resource layout and naming Handling data types for any programming language Standard methods that ensure predictability Field masks for targeted partial updates Authentication and validation methods for secure APIs Collective operations for moving, managing, and deleting data Advanced patterns for special interactions and data transformations API Design Patterns reveals best practices for building stable, user-friendly APIs. These design patterns can be applied to solve common API problems and flexibly altered to fit specific needs. Hands-on examples and relevant cases illustrate patterns for API fundamentals, advanced functionalities, and uncommon scenarios. Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About the technology APIs are contracts that define how applications, services, and components communicate. API design patterns provide a shared set of best practices, specifications and standards that ensure APIs are reliable and simple for other developers. This book collects and explains the most important patterns from both the API design community and the experts at Google. About the book API Design Patterns lays out a set of principles for building internal and public-facing APIs. Google API expert JJ Geewax presents patterns that ensure your APIs are consistent, scalable, and flexible. You’ll improve the design of the most common APIs, plus discover techniques for tricky edge cases. Precise illustrations, relevant examples, and detailed scenarios make every pattern clear and easy to understand. What's inside Guiding principles for API patterns Fundamentals of resource layout and naming Advanced patterns for special interactions and data transformations A detailed case-study on building an API and adding features About the reader For developers building web and internal APIs in any language. About the author JJ Geewax is a software engineer at Google, focusing on Google Cloud Platform, API design, and real-time payment systems. He is also the author of Manning’s Google Cloud Platform in Action. Table of Contents PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction to APIs 2 Introduction to API design patterns PART 2 DESIGN PRINCIPLES 3 Naming 4 Resource scope and hierarchy 5 Data types and defaults PART 3 FUNDAMENTALS 6 Resource identification 7 Standard methods 8 Partial updates and retrievals 9 Custom methods 10 Long-running operations 11 Rerunnable jobs PART 4 RESOURCE RELATIONSHIPS 12 Singleton sub-resources 13 Cross references 14 Association resources 15 Add and remove custom methods 16 Polymorphism PART 5 COLLECTIVE OPERATIONS 17 Copy and move 18 Batch operations 19 Criteria-based deletion 20 Anonymous writes 21 Pagination 22 Filtering 23 Importing and exporting PART 6 SAFETY AND SECURITY 24 Versioning and compatibility 25 Soft deletion 26 Request deduplication 27 Request validation 28 Resource revisions 29 Request retrial 30 Request authentication
Financial Instrument Pricing Using C++
Author: Daniel J. Duffy
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119170494
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 1168
Book Description
An integrated guide to C++ and computational finance This complete guide to C++ and computational finance is a follow-up and major extension to Daniel J. Duffy's 2004 edition of Financial Instrument Pricing Using C++. Both C++ and computational finance have evolved and changed dramatically in the last ten years and this book documents these improvements. Duffy focuses on these developments and the advantages for the quant developer by: Delving into a detailed account of the new C++11 standard and its applicability to computational finance. Using de-facto standard libraries, such as Boost and Eigen to improve developer productivity. Developing multiparadigm software using the object-oriented, generic, and functional programming styles. Designing flexible numerical algorithms: modern numerical methods and multiparadigm design patterns. Providing a detailed explanation of the Finite Difference Methods through six chapters, including new developments such as ADE, Method of Lines (MOL), and Uncertain Volatility Models. Developing applications, from financial model to algorithmic design and code, through a coherent approach. Generating interoperability with Excel add-ins, C#, and C++/CLI. Using random number generation in C++11 and Monte Carlo simulation. Duffy adopted a spiral model approach while writing each chapter of Financial Instrument Pricing Using C++ 2e: analyse a little, design a little, and code a little. Each cycle ends with a working prototype in C++ and shows how a given algorithm or numerical method works. Additionally, each chapter contains non-trivial exercises and projects that discuss improvements and extensions to the material. This book is for designers and application developers in computational finance, and assumes the reader has some fundamental experience of C++ and derivatives pricing. HOW TO RECEIVE THE SOURCE CODE Once you have purchased a copy of the book please send an email to the author dduffyATdatasim.nl requesting your personal and non-transferable copy of the source code. Proof of purchase is needed. The subject of the mail should be “C++ Book Source Code Request”. You will receive a reply with a zip file attachment.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119170494
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 1168
Book Description
An integrated guide to C++ and computational finance This complete guide to C++ and computational finance is a follow-up and major extension to Daniel J. Duffy's 2004 edition of Financial Instrument Pricing Using C++. Both C++ and computational finance have evolved and changed dramatically in the last ten years and this book documents these improvements. Duffy focuses on these developments and the advantages for the quant developer by: Delving into a detailed account of the new C++11 standard and its applicability to computational finance. Using de-facto standard libraries, such as Boost and Eigen to improve developer productivity. Developing multiparadigm software using the object-oriented, generic, and functional programming styles. Designing flexible numerical algorithms: modern numerical methods and multiparadigm design patterns. Providing a detailed explanation of the Finite Difference Methods through six chapters, including new developments such as ADE, Method of Lines (MOL), and Uncertain Volatility Models. Developing applications, from financial model to algorithmic design and code, through a coherent approach. Generating interoperability with Excel add-ins, C#, and C++/CLI. Using random number generation in C++11 and Monte Carlo simulation. Duffy adopted a spiral model approach while writing each chapter of Financial Instrument Pricing Using C++ 2e: analyse a little, design a little, and code a little. Each cycle ends with a working prototype in C++ and shows how a given algorithm or numerical method works. Additionally, each chapter contains non-trivial exercises and projects that discuss improvements and extensions to the material. This book is for designers and application developers in computational finance, and assumes the reader has some fundamental experience of C++ and derivatives pricing. HOW TO RECEIVE THE SOURCE CODE Once you have purchased a copy of the book please send an email to the author dduffyATdatasim.nl requesting your personal and non-transferable copy of the source code. Proof of purchase is needed. The subject of the mail should be “C++ Book Source Code Request”. You will receive a reply with a zip file attachment.
Software Engineering for Experimental Robotics
Author: Davide Brugali
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3540689516
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 501
Book Description
This book reports on the concepts and ideas discussed at the well attended ICRA2005 Workshop on "Principles and Practice of Software Development in Robotics", held in Barcelona, Spain, April 18 2005. It collects contributions that describe the state of the art in software development for the Robotics domain. It also reports a number of practical applications to real systems and discuss possible future developments.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3540689516
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 501
Book Description
This book reports on the concepts and ideas discussed at the well attended ICRA2005 Workshop on "Principles and Practice of Software Development in Robotics", held in Barcelona, Spain, April 18 2005. It collects contributions that describe the state of the art in software development for the Robotics domain. It also reports a number of practical applications to real systems and discuss possible future developments.