Niche Modeling: Ecological Metaphors for Sustainable Software in Science

Introduction An ecological metaphor is often used in discussing the interrelated and interdependent organization of software development environments. We believe that this is a rich and potentially useful way of describing complex systems of people and technologies that are involved in developing, using, sustaining and archiving software. Further, an appropriate metaphor can be a useful analytic lens for understanding any complex setting. By considering how well various components of the metaphor apply and fail to apply to aspects of a particular setting, we can deepen our understanding and uncover new questions to ask. In effect, a metaphor, when used in an appropriate way, can be an analytic creativity generator, provoking different questions and perspectives.