Developers and architects involved in Microsoft .Net-based software projects now can avail themselves to Lattix's Lightweight Dependency Models (LDM) technology for controlling projects, with Lattix LDM for .Net. The product allows for visualizing and controlling of a software architecture to prevent dependencies from arising that should not exist, such as the implementation of a framework that depends on the business layer.

Previously available for Java developers, the technology uses a dependency structure matrix to provide a representation of a system.

"As people implement [an architecture] in code, they start connecting things together that they shouldn't be connecting together," said Frank Waldman, vice president of sales at Lattix.

With Lattix LDM for .Net, an architecture is mapped to actual code; developers can go from a "big picture" perspective to specific details. Refactoring removes unwanted dependencies and renames subsystems so code organization reflects an intended architecture. Architects and developers can analyze an architecture in detail, edit the structure to create what-if scenarios and specify design rules to formalize an architecture to an entire development organization.

"This is something that the folks in the .Net community have not had a way to do," said Waldman. Prior approaches to architecture management for .Net have involved Unified Modeling Language (UML) models using boxes and arrows or the use of PowerPoint diagrams, Waldman said.