A comparison of service-oriented development approaches

Software enabled systems are essential in many applications domains, such as business information systems, complex control software and telecommunication systems; they are quickly emerging in others, for instance in embedded systems and mobile network applications. Such systems are ever growing in size and complexity, with simultaneously increasing demands on quality, performance, governance and correctness. The number of complex systems of systems integration and maintenance efforts is rising. It is of paramount importance to manage the development of such systems in an effective, timely, and resource saving way. It is mandatory to reduce complexity by raising the levels of abstraction as possible and to have effective system development models that support it. Service-orientation is a promising idea of managing the development, realization and implementation of complex software enabled systems. General idea is to focus on the functionality of a system delivered by interactions with its users – its services – and to abstract from more concrete details, such as structural and implementation aspects. Many development approaches in academia and industry label themselves as service-oriented. Application of services ranges from early requirements engineering phases to the deployment of executable systems. However, there is no common understanding of the meaning of the terms service and service-orientation, even within one application domain. In this article, we provide an overview of the underlying concepts of service-orientation, depict potential benefits across development phases and survey existing service-oriented development approaches. We identify criteria that enable us to compare the approaches and show their commonalities and differences. We conclude the essence of service-orientated and related approaches and their benefits.