UML PROFILE FOR SAVECCM - Research

Component – based software engineering
2. Component – Based Software Engineering
This section introduces the new and increasing approach in software
engineering, the Component – Based Software Engineering.
2.1 An itroduction to CBSE discipline
The field of component-based software engineering (CBSE) is concerned with
the development of software applications and systems by assembling pre-existing
smaller pieces, which are termed software components. A consequence of this
approach is that software components may be independently developed, reused in
many various applications or systems, or can be replaced within those systems
without any side effect. To assemble components, a proprietary code that
connects the components is usually needed (this code is often called a .glue
code).
In an ideal world, assembling of components would be simple and smooth.
However, in real world, CBSE is still a new discipline, and there are many
problems to solve, and supporting technologies and tools to develop. That is why
assembling of components is still a complex and often difficult process.
The widespread development and reuse of software components is regarded by
many as one of the next biggest phenomena for software development. Reusing
high-quality software components in software development has the potential for
drastically improving the quality and development productivity of component-based
software. Building systems based on reusable components is not a new idea. It
has been proven to be a very effective cost-reduction approach.
Component-based systems are a result of adopting a component-based design
strategy. By design strategy, it is considered something very close to architectural
style – a high level design pattern described by the types of components in a
system and their patterns of interaction [Bass 98]. Software component technology
includes the concepts that support and reflect this design pattern as it is depicted
graphically in Figure 2-1. This reflection is due to the fact that software component
technology does not only exist in development process but it is also the part of
deployed system.
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