(444g) Logging Tools to Help You

While the use of CAPE-OPEN technology should always be no problem to end-users, bugs within the implementation or call of CAPE-OPEN interfaces can not be avoided as with any other software. The inner workings of the CAPE-OPEN technology are not for end-users to know about. But end-users should have ways to communicate about the problems encountered especially when pieces of software from different parties are involved.

From early on CO-LaN has invested in tools to diagnostic problems arising when a 3rd party CAPE-OPEN software component is plugged in a CAPE-OPEN compliant process simulator. After several phases of development, including a refactoring process, CO-LaN delivers the CAPE-OPEN Logging and Testing Tool (COLTT) as open source.

While COLTT is the tool to be used when faced with problems involving a fully developed process model involving CAPE-OPEN Process Modelling Component(s), it is worth mentioning that other tools are available for a similar purpose. The most noticeable one is OATS from AmsterCHEM which is very effective for developers checking their components / simulators on process models made from scratch.

Many Process Modelling Component vendors have invested along time in dedicated log tools that however tell the story only from one side while COLTT, as well as OATS, capture most of what goes on on both sides, the PME and the PMC sides. Use of tools such as COLTT and OATS is now a common feature of the communication with support and development teams of most software vendors involved in CAPE-OPEN