Service-based software: the future for flexible software
2000, Proceedings Seventh Asia-Pacific Software Engeering Conference. APSEC 2000
Abstract
For the past 40 years, the techniques, processes and methods of software development have been dominated by supply-side issues, giving rise to a software industry oriented towards developers rather than users. To achieve the levels of functionality, flexibility and time to market required by users, a radical shift is required in the development of software, with a more demand-centric view leading to software which will be delivered as a service within the framework of an open marketplace. Already, there are some signs that this approach is being adopted by industry but in a very limited way. We summarise research and a research method which has resulted in a long-term strategic view of software engineering innovation. Based on this foundation, we describe more recent work, which has resulted in an innovative demand-side model for the future of software. We propose a service architecture in which components may be bound instantly, just at the time they are neededand then the binding may be discarded. A major benefit of this approach is that it leads to highly flexible and agile software, that should be able to meet rapidly changing business needs.
References (9)
- P.Brereton, D.Budgen, K.Bennett, M.Munro, P.Layzell, L.Macaulay, D.Griffiths and C.Stannett, "The Future of Software: Defining the Research Agenda", Comm. ACM, Vol.42, No.12, December 1999
- D. Truex, R.Baskeville and H.Klein, "Growing Systems in Emergent Organizations", Comm.ACM, Vol.42, No.8, August 1999
- M. Cusumano & D. Yoffe, "Competing on Internet Time -Lessons from Netscape and its Battle with Microsoft", Free Press (Simon & Schuster) 1998
- C.Lovelock, S.Vandermerwe, B.Lewis, Services Marketing, Prentice Hall Europe, 1996
- "Software Rentals to Increase", News Digest Report, Financial Times, 13 April 2000, p8 (UK edition)
- E.Yourdon and L.Constantine, Structured Design, Yourdon Press, 1978.
- S. Shapiro, "Splitting the Difference: The Historical Necessity of Synthesis in Software Engineering", IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, Vol. 19, No. 1, January 1997, pp20-54.
- C. Szyperski, Component Software -Beyond object- oriented programming, Addison-Wesley, 1998.
- O.P. Brereton and D. Budgen, "Component Based Systems: A Classification of Issues", accepted for publication in IEEE Computer.