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Software Reuse beyond Components with XVCL (Tutorial)

  • Chapter
Generative and Transformational Techniques in Software Engineering II (GTTSE 2007)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 5235))

Abstract

The basic idea behind software reuse is to exploit similarities within and across software systems to avoid repetitive development work. Conventional reuse is based on components and architectures. We describe how reuse of structural similarities extends the benefits of conventional component reuse, and realization of the concept with a generative technique of XVCL. Structural similarities are repetition patterns in software of any type or granularity, from similar code fragments to recurring architecture-level component configuration patterns. We represent any significant repetition pattern in subject system(s) with a generic, adaptable, XVCL meta-structure. We develop, reuse and evolve software at the level of meta-structures, deriving specific, custom systems from their meta-level representations. Lab studies and industrial applications of XVCL show that by doing that, on average, we raise reuse rates and productivity by 60-90%, reducing cognitive program complexity and maintenance effort by similar rates. The approach scales to systems of any size. The benefits are proportional to system size, and to the extent of repetitions present in subject system(s). The main application of this reuse strategy is in supporting software Product Lines.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543

    Stan Jarzabek

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  1. Stan Jarzabek
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich 4, Institut für Informatik, Universität Koblenz-Landau, B127, Universitätsstraße 1, 56070, Koblenz, Germany

    Ralf Lämmel

  2. Software Improvement Group, A.J. Ernststraat 595-H,, 1082 LD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Joost Visser

  3. Universidade do Minho, Braga,, Campus de Gualtar, Portugal

    João Saraiva

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Jarzabek, S. (2008). Software Reuse beyond Components with XVCL (Tutorial). In: Lämmel, R., Visser, J., Saraiva, J. (eds) Generative and Transformational Techniques in Software Engineering II. GTTSE 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5235. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88643-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88643-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-88642-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-88643-3

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