Domain Analysis for Supporting Commercial Off-the-Shelf Components Selection

Abstract

Abstract. Though new technological trends and paradigms arise for developing complex software systems, systematic reuse continues to be an elusive goal. In this context, the adoption of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies introduces many challenges that still have not been fully overcome, such as the lack of comprehensive mechanisms to record and manage the required information for supporting COTS components selection. In this paper we present a domain analysis approach for gathering the information needed to describe COTS market segments as required for effective COTS components selection. Due to the diversity of the information to capture, we propose different dimensions of interest for COTS components selection that are covered by different domain models. These models are articulated by means of a single framework based on a widespread software quality standard.

SYSTEMATIC CONSTRUCTION OF i* STRATEGIC DEPENDENCY MODELS FOR SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

“…There are many proposals available (e.g. [24][25][26]), each of them having its own characteristics and applicability conditions. In RiSD we have preferred not to commit to any of them and leave this point open.…”

Open Source Collaboration for Fostering Off-The-Shelf Components Selection

“…However, although reusable component repositories have been an active research area for more than a decade, they have not yet received wide success in practice, mainly because of too heavy upstart and maintainance cost; and undercritical information relevance later on [12], [13]. Moreover, a similar challenge to deal with OTS repositories have also been recognized [14].…”

“…OTS information is structured in a Component Description Metamodel (CDM) based on the ISO/IEC 9126-1 quality standard. This has been extended to support all the informational dimensions for selecting OTS and reusing the information about them [14]. In addition, some research tools have been developed for supporting the method, i.e., the DesCOTS system (Description, evaluation, and selection of COTS components) [21].…”

“…The Component Description Metamodel (CDM) is based on the ISO-IEC 9126-1 software quality standard, and extended for covering all the informational dimensions needed for evaluating OTS components (functionality, quality of service, interoperability, non-technical factors and concepts definition) [14]. This structure has demonstrated to be useful for reusing information and helping the elicitation and (re)negotiation of requirements, making easier the identification of mismatches among components characteristics and the requirements in specific OTS selection processes [19].…”

A Formal Method for Conceptual Fit Analysis

“…It is similar to what is called domain compatibility in Systematic Process for Reusable Software Components Selection (OTSO), which refers to how well a system and its features map into the terminology and concepts of the domain [3]. It is also similar to what is called suitability of data in the GOThIC method, which evaluates how a particular system represents the data of a UML class or association of a common domain model [6]. This paper analyzes the conceptual fit between user requirements and COTS systems.…”