Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!ico!vail!rcd
From: rcd@ico.ISC.COM (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: comp.sw.components
Subject: Re: Non-Code Software Components
Summary: We re-use a lot of other things
Keywords: non-code software
Message-ID: <16210@vail.ICO.ISC.COM>
Date: 13 Oct 89 21:07:30 GMT
References: <598@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu>
Organization: Interactive Systems Corp, Boulder, CO
Lines: 24

eberard@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu (Edward Berard) writes:

> Unfortunately, most of the effort in software reusability systems
> seems to be focused on code software. Ironically, this is the area
> where the return on investment seems to be the lowest. For example, if
> analysis and design consume a significantly larger share of the
> software life-cycle than does coding, reuse of analysis and design can
> potentially provide significantly greater returns than the mere reuse
> of code.

I'm surprised to see this statement.  Perhaps it's true, but from where I
sit (in an organization which does a LOT of contract development of soft-
ware), we re-use bits and pieces all through projects.  We'll start looking
at a new contract, say at the proposal phase, and realize that it has some
major pieces which are close to major pieces of other contracts we've done.
It's only natural to find that, since our repeat or referred business is
based on a reputation established from previous work.

It's important to re-use work from the front-end phases of projects.
That's how you improve your ability to size projects--if you've done it
before, you *know* how long it will take.
-- 
Dick Dunn     rcd@ico.isc.com    uucp: {ncar,nbires}!ico!rcd     (303)449-2870
   ...No DOS.  UNIX.