Designing A Framework for Handling Barriers to Software Reuse

Abstract

Software reuse has received much attention since the concept was introduced in 1968. Software reuse itself is a broad concept that has many levels of meaning, ranging from strict code reuse, to design/analysis reuse, to entire application reuse. Reusable software components are designed to apply the power and benefit of reusable, interchangeable parts from other industries to the field of software construction. Component-based Software Engineering is an approach to software development that relies on software reuse. Benefits of component reuse are sharing common code, making components available at one place and making development easier and quicker. Many companies, especially those in the defence and aerospace fields, have setup successful reuse programs. However, not all reuse programs are successful. There are many barriers to software reuse which impede the successful implementation of software reuse in software development. The barriers can be broadly categorized into three aspects namely, technical aspect, managerial/organizational aspect and cultural aspect. Technical barriers can be considered from technical point of view like lack of tools, lack of technologies, lack of methodologies etc. Managerial barriers are related to management in the organization like lack of management support, lack of incentives. Any barrier which is related to any change in the organization or related to processes will be related to cultural barriers. This thesis identifies all the barriers to software reuse, the reason behind these barriers and provides the solution for the barriers.