Two start-ups address application requirements

Two software companies have new tools to improve the planning stage of corporate applications. Berkeley, Calif.-based N8 Systems on Monday launched its company and made its service generally available. Using the Unified Modeling Language, the company's N8 Archetype software, offered as a hosted service, is designed to automatically convert a Microsoft Word document that describes how a proposed application would work into a visual diagram.

Viewing an application's functions with a visual diagram lets business analysts and programmers quickly address potential software requirement hitches, according to N8 Chief David Hartford. The software of another company, El Segundo, Calif.-based iRise, creates a visual simulation of a finished application.