Answer to Question #33735 in Programming & Computer Science for Victoria

Question

Your question (max 1024 symbols)
identfy the features being offered by a reusable component and explain them.

Answer 1

Software component reuse is the software engineering practice of creating new software applications from existing components, rather than designing and building them from scratch. Reusable components can be requirements specifications, design documents, source code, user interfaces, user documentation, or any other items associated with software. All products resulting from the software development life cycle have the potential for reuse.


In order for a component (specification, design, code) to be reusable, it needs to have certain qualities that contribute to its reusability. Reusability is defined as the extent to which a software component can be used with or without changes in multiple software systems, versions, or implementations (McClure 97). A list of those characteristics generally sought after to promote reusability as presented by McClure are as follows:
oGeneral with build-in adaptability/specialization
oWidely applicable
oModular/self-contained
oComplete and consistent
oMachine independent
oImplementation/application independent
oData model independent
oReliable
oRobust (good error/exception handling built in)
oUnderstandable/well documented
oAdaptable/extensible
oStandardized
oPortable (across hardware and operating systems)
oCertified/testable
oMaintainable
oEncapsulated (details are isolated and hidden from user)