A Program Manager's Guide to Generic Architectures

Abstract : The reuse of existing software components can significantly improve productivity on software development projects. A generic architecture provides a way to increase the level of reuse beyond that possible with traditional approaches. Typically, reusable components are available from software libraries that provide them for use on a wide variety of applications. However, with a generic architecture, the components are designed to meet the specific requirements of those applications. This change in focus makes it possible to take advantage of similarities in the requirements and design of those applications so as to develop reusable components for operations that are difficult to support with more general purpose library components. In general, the reuse of software components contributes to software productivity by reducing the number of lines of new code that must be designed, coded, tested, and maintained. However, the benefits to be derived from a generic architecture are not limited to greater productivity, but include greater reliability, enhanced interoperability, improved operator performance, and lower training cost as well. Generic architectures also make software more adaptable to changing requirements, environments, and technology and provide strong support for the rapid prototyping of related applications. (kr)