Toward a Model of Reusable Software Subsystems

No one has yet developed a generally acceptable model of reusable software that fully captures the nature of software parts and how they should be used to construct new systems. This paper discusses developing a model of reusable subsystems, where a subsystem can vary in grain size from large scale generic architectures to single module components. It draws on previous work from wisr'91 to describe the need for an analytical model of reusable subsystems, the purposes for such a model, the broad properties such a model should have, and the critical issues that have already been identiied which must be addressed. It points out the strong incentive researchers and practitioners have to drive toward a model for software building blocks and how they are used to construct systems. Workshop Goals: Cross-fertilization of ideas with other researchers; building on the results of wisr'91; keeping abreast of other ongoing reuse work; advancing the theoretical foundations of software reuse.