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COTS‐based software product line development

Luiz Fernando Capretz (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada)
Faheem Ahmed (College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al‐Ain, United Arab Emirates)
Shereef Al‐Maati (Computer Science and Information Systems, American University of Kuwait, Safat, Kuwait)
Zaher Al Aghbari (Department of Computer Science, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

International Journal of Web Information Systems

ISSN: 1744-0084

Article publication date: 20 June 2008

481

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a pragmatic approach to components off‐the‐shelf (COTS)‐based development. Software product line (SPL) is at the forefront among the techniques for reducing costs, decreasing schedule time, and ensuring commonality of features across a family of products – as COTS are reused in multiple products.

Design/methodology/approach

A disciplined process for SPL development is still needed. This paper proposes the Y‐model for COTS‐based SPL development. The model put forward identifies and elaborates the essential phases and activities of SPL development from COTS‐based repository.

Findings

The Y‐model provides an efficient way of integrating the approaches of SPL and COTS‐based development as a cohesive software development model.

Practical implications

The model has the potential to tremendously increase software engineers' productivity. Thus, software architects, domain engineers and component designers should become aware of how to use these ideas to structure their models and designs.

Originality/value

This paper describes a systematic approach for COTS‐based development that takes into account the cataloguing and retrieval of software assets permeating a process that encompasses all stages of software development, from system product requirements engineering to system deployment.

Keywords

Citation

Fernando Capretz, L., Ahmed, F., Al‐Maati, S. and Al Aghbari, Z. (2008), "COTS‐based software product line development", International Journal of Web Information Systems, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 165-180. https://doi.org/10.1108/17440080810882351

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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