Abstract

For the last 50 years, the technology for producing computer hardware has radically changed. The integrated circuits (IC) and microprocessors make the basic building blocks from which faster and less expensive computers can be assembled. However, there was no dramatic change in software production. Each new software product required software designers and programmers to start from scratch and produce program code line by line until the program was finished. Component-based software engineering (CBSE) is going to change the situation of software development by building software product through assembling pre-built, ready-tested components, the so-called "software ICs". The benefits of doing so include: reducing development time and cost; increasing productivity; and reducing risk of development, since pre-built components have been well tested and produced through massively manufacturing process.

Can we build software in the way of classic engineering disciplines?  Can we develop software much faster than we do now with lower cost? Why is it
important to build software system based on pre-built, reusable components?  What is a component? How does a software designer build a reusable
component?  How can we ensure that the right components can be found and used? How can we guarantee that correct product can always be obtained by assembling correct components? This seminar talk will address these questions after looking into the 30-year software engineering practice. The proposed solution to these questions lies in the concept of highly reusable software components.  Research and development goals and potential solutions are presented and related works are discussed.

About the Speaker