ReThree-C++ - A Reverse Engineering, ReDocumentation and Reuse Tool for C++

ReThree-C++ (Version 2.32)

Windows 3.1 and '95

ReThree-C++ is an integrated reverse engineering, redocumentation and reuse tool set. It can be used to extract information from C++ source code, and to create a repository of C++ classes for later retrieval. The tool set can be divided into three main functions:
  1. Automatically reverse engineering C++ source code to give a visual class hierarchy representation in OMT object model format, to be displayed by OMTool, or a Java compatible browser.
  2. Documenting C++ source code, based on the comments contained within the code, to provide automatically generated software documentation, to be displayed by an RTF compatible word processor.
  3. Building, maintaining and searching a reuse repository of C++ classes which can be re-used in later applications.
ReThree-C++ is designed with small company developers in mind, who are under pressure to complete their coding to tight deadlines. Its purpose is to help them to achieve the benefits that reuse of code can bring without the large up-front investment that is usually required for reuse to be successful. In order to reuse code, it is necessary to have appropriate code available, as well as being able to find the code, modify it (if necessary) and integrate it into the current system.

The principles of object oriented design are useful for building reusable code in manageable components. However, there is little tool support for the process of making code reusable, storing it for later use, retrieving it when needed and understanding the structure of reusable components. ReThree-C++ addresses these problems. It is based solely on C++ source code, and provides automatic reverse engineering and documentation of source code to help developers understand the structure of code to be reused. It also provides reuse repository support, allowing classes to be added to a reuse repository and providing search facilities for repositories. Classes that match the search criteria can be automatically reverse engineered and documented to help the developer understand the structure and purpose of the code.

Reverse engineering provides an Object Modeling Technique class hierarchy diagram of the classes described in the C++ source code. This can be viewed using either OMTool or Java compatible Netscape (or other Java compatible Web browser).

Documentation is taken from the comments in the source code which describe the functionality of the code. It is either written to a file in Rich Text Format which can be viewed by Word for Windows (or other RTF compatible application), or to HTML which can be viewed by Netscape (or other HTML 2.0 compatible Web browser).

Both single source files and project (make) files can be processed by ReThree-C++. Both can also be added into reuse repository files.

Downloading ReThree-C++

  1. Download a copy of the ReThree-C++ v. 2.3 executable (Windows 3.1 and 95 compatible).
  2. Unzip the file RE3-CPP.ZIP into a new directory. This will unpack the files RE3-CPP.EXE, RE3-CPP.HLP and JCREATE.BAT
  3. In Windows, using Program Manager, add a new icon to your desktop for RE3-CPP.EXE.
  4. You can now run ReThree-C++. Please read the README.TXT file for instructions on setting ReThree-C++ up to work on your system. Please note that you will need the Java Development Kit on your Windows 95 system in order to view the Java class hierarchy
  5. If you have any problems with missing dynamic link libraries when trying to run ReThree-C++, try downloading the appropriate DLL.

Standard disclaimer

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Changes in this version

ReThree-C++ is optimised for use with Visual C++ files. However, it now works with any C++ header files, searching for the extensions .H and .HPP in C++ make files. If your make file does not contain a list of the project's header files, you can make your own by creating a file with a list of all the header files associated with the project. This is changed from version 2.3, which dealt mainly with Visual C++ make files.

Credits

ReThree-C++ uses information extracted by Docclass, a C++ information abstractor, available from Trumphurst Ltd. (docclass@trmphrst.demon.co.uk)
Page maintained by Pete Biggs.