Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!hplabs!hp-ses!hpcea!hpnmdla!hpmwtd!markv
From: markv@hpmwtd.HP.COM (Mark VanMeeter)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Surface area for software
Message-ID: <1500002@hpmwmdv.HP.COM>
Date: 5 May 89 16:17:28 GMT
References: <7978@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Organization: HP Microwave Tech. - Santa Rosa, Ca.
Lines: 19

>> Can anyone give or point me to a precise definition of "Surface
>> Area?"  Is there a system that allows me to compute the value of the
>> surface area?

>Seriously?  A surface is the outside of an object or body; its area is the 
>amount of surface measured in two-dimensions.  Take a look at any decent 
>integral calculus book for basic formulas for calculating surface area.  If 
>you want a more detailed examination, look at a mathematical topology book.
>If you want an automated aid for calculating surface area, try some symbolic 
>computation program like mathematica.  (Aren't CS students required to take 
>calculus anymore?)  

Did you notice that this was comp.software-eng and not comp.math.weenies?
Did it cross your mind that "surface area" might be CS jargon?

The original poster is undoubtedly referring to the concept of interface
complexity in a software system.  The concept is defined in Brad Cox's
book, "Object Oriented Programming: An Evolutionary Approach", Addison-Wesley,
1987, ISBN 0-201-10393-1.