Tools for RIM based software development
Tools for RIM based software development are software toolkits that can be used by software developers to support/implement HL7's RIM-based standards.
Notes:
- Most tools within HL7 cater to 'standards creators', i.e. tools that support the standards development process. See e.g. HL7 Tooling FAQs and HL7.org toolkit page.
- The term "implementation" is commonly/historically used in HL7 to identify "the process of creating implementation guides", whereas software developers would understand "implementation" to mean "software implementation / software development". For that reason this page avoids the term altogether.
The list below contains HL7-sponsored or HL7-developed tools, as well as open source, public domain, or commercial tools. By default all listed tools are open source and public domain. Commercial tools are (and: SHALL be) explicitely identified as such.
Tool Categories
Implementation tools that RIMBAA has identified include the ones below, sorted by the type of audience/task they support:
Tools that directly suport the software development process:
| Tool Category | Description | Examples | v3 msg | v3 CDA | RIMBAA |
| MIF Parser | MIF consumption, API to use MIF | x | x | x | |
| MIF based class/code generators | Includes serialization (which is independent of ITS) | MDHT, Everest, JavaSIG | x | x | x |
| MIF based schema and schematron generator | SchemaGenerator | x | x | ||
| MIF based database schema generator | for RIM, datatypes (and versions thereof), or R-MIMs | MGRIDcommercial? | x | ||
| MIF based UI generators | Constrained information model to UI element | x | |||
| ISO Datatypes library | Classes, operations, may include serialization | Everest | x | x | x |
| CTS products | Apelon, LexGRID, Healthlanguagecommercial | x | x | x | |
| Mapping tools | Open Mapping Software | x | x | x | |
| RIM Based Persistence Layer | inclusive of OO-API, as a base platform for application development. Subtype: ORM layer to abstract the data types (e.g. an enhanced Hibernate) | JavaSIG, MGRIDcommercial, Oracle HTBcommercial | x | ||
| MIF to model transformations | e.g. to UML | x | x | x |
Tools that support software developers:
| Tool Category | Description | Examples |
| Set of testcases/examples | to test ones code. Or test framework such as IHE Gazelle. | |
| Model Based Testing tools | Instance Editor, MDHT | |
| An example of a software implementation | testing, playing around | |
| MIF visualization tool | show condensed view |
Tools that are used by analysts/providers:
| Tool Category | Description | Examples |
| Model Driven application generation tools | (static/dynamic/UIs/..) | PHI Technology |
| Model Driven documentation generators | PHI Technology | |
| MIF based UI designers | binding UI wireframe to model elements |
Tool Selection Criteria
If there are multiple options for a certain type of tool, the following list should aid HL7/RIMBAA in selecting/endorsing the most appropriate tool:
| Criterium | Description |
|---|---|
| Offers support | Up to date documentation, Availability of skilled resources and services |
| Continued development | Follow developments within HL7 (with a reasonable time lag) |
| Proven usage | Used at least 1, or x, sites |
| Reusability | open architecture, developed for re-use as a component in a different "stack", not be tied into one particular solution stack |
| Unambiguous license | No prohibitive licensing small-print, For open products: use should not effectively require the purchase of non-open parts. No hidden "Widget-frosting", should be known ahead of time. |
| Cost | Low cost preferred over high cost |
