REDUCTION OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS UNDER SOMBRERO, A SINGLE ADDRESS SPACE DISTRIBUTED OPERATING SYSTEM by

This thesis examines the potential for reduction in software complexity of applications developed under the Single Address Space Operating System Sombrero versus those developed under a conventional process-oriented operating system, Windows 2000. To test Sombrero's impact on development costs, a set of sample database applications with varying functionality was developed under Windows 2000 and Sombrero. Using accepted software engineering metrics, the software complexity of these systems was compared. The results obtained indicate a substantial reduction of software development costs and defects in a single address space environment such as that provided by Sombrero. iv DEDICATION To my family for all their support.