Component-based Software Engineering: Building Systems form Software Components

Component-based Software Engineering: Building Systems form Software Components

Introduction

Component-based Software Engineering (CBSE) is concerned with the development of systems from software components, the development of components, and system maintenance and improvement by means of component replacement or customization [1]. Building systems from components and building components for different systems requires established methodologies and processes not only in relation to development/maintenance phases, but also to the entire component and system lifecycle including organizational, marketing, legal, and other aspects. In addition to objectives such as component specification, composition, and component technology development that are specific to CBSE, there are a number of software engineering disciplines and processes that require methodologies be specialized for application in component-based development. Many of these methodologies are not yet established in practice, some have not yet been developed. Experiences from other areas, such as system engineering can be successfully applied on componentbased development, as there are many similarities in the basic concepts (for example, relations between systems and components). Also, with its focus on components and their specifications, CBSE can give better understanding of building systems in general, and in particular of computer-based systems whose significant part is software. The progress of software and system development in the near future will depend very much on the successful establishment of CBSE; this is recognized by both industry and academia. The growing interest in CBSE is reflected in the number of workshops and conferences with CBSE tracks [2-6].