Standards Overview

Python

A lot of "standard" FOSS software is written in Java or C/C++, however Python still provides the best "glue" language for putting it all together. C/C++ APIs can be wrapped as cPython libraries and Java APIs can be called from Jython, a dialect of Python that runs on the Java virtual machine. Interprocess communications can be via D-BUS though for a lot of DTN related stuff the file system itself may be a better choice.

PyDev is an eclipse plugin supporting both cPython and Jython. It seems to be well regarded.

UML

The Unified Modeling  Language (version 2) is the best way to communicate about needs, requirements, specifications and design. The Object Management Group also publishes many other industry standards and specifications (eg Corba) with increasing use of UML to specify them.

 http://www.uml.org/

Business Specifications

The OMG Business Modeling Specifications could be useful for describing some of the organizations needed to manage various aspects including Local Area, School and Neighbourhood postal services, Battery Charging Stations etc.

Domain Specifications

Provides much of the collective analysis of shared problems including domains such as Telecommunications.

http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/domain_spec_catalog.htm

EAI

Enterprise Application Integration

is intended mainly for integrating "legacy" mainframe systems. However its focus on message queues with sources, sinks, transformations, routers,  filters, adaptors etc may be an especially useful approach for EDOC modeling of the integration of postal delivery and collection points, routes and schedules with telecommunications facilities.

EDOC

Enterprise Distributed Object Computing may be an especially usable approach for modeling event based publish and subscribe systems (eg evolution of podcasting to email and voicemail with DTN).

http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/formal/edoc.htm

Eclipse MDT

The Eclipse Model Development Tools project looks likely to be the best source of FOSS tools for UML models. Includes Papyrus as well as various UML profiles including SysML. Eclipse itself looks likely to be the most useful software development environment.

http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/?project=uml2

MDA and MOF

We are architects, not bees. In some circumstances it is possible to implement systems directly from the model.

 http://www.omg.org/mda/

 An orientation towards the philosophical dialectics of material reality helps a lot with understanding transformation.

http://www.omg.org/mof/

http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/modeling_spec_catalog.htm

Profiles

The OMG profile catalog includes other relevant profiles such as those used in System on Chip designs (eg Cardpods), Software Radio (eg cell phones) and Voice Dialogs (possible UI for Cardpods). Also many others relevant, some of which are listed here separately.

http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/profile_catalog.htm

SoC

The UML profile for System On Chip design may be useful for understanding the features available in both Cardpods and cell phones and procuring appropriate models.

SysML

SysML is the standard for Systems Engineering models using UML (not just for software systems) with block diagrams including constraint paramaters, process activities with probablity distributions etc. Could be useful for modeling battery charging stations including trade off analysis for choosing optimal combinations of generator, solar, wind, hydel, fixed storage, portable battery chargers, battery and battery pack types by describing the interactions between different aspects.

http://www.omgsysml.org/

Vendors

In addition to FOSS tools for public use, there are several proprietary vendors tools that add more comprehensive industry standard proprietary tools with extensive documentation and free trial versions available for download. Models can be interchanged. Documentation should be studied. Some well known vendors that may provide academic and ICT4D discounts include:

IBM Rational Software (now includes Telogic Rhapsody and Tau).

Magic Draw (has a community edition).

Sparx (Enterprise Architect)