A formal framework for analyzing reusability complexity in component-based systems

摘要

In this paper, we present a methodology to estimate the impact of modifying a given software system design. In addition, we will be able to evaluate its reusability as well as the coupling of its components. In order to do that, the designer defines the system in terms of its components, their dependencies, the properties they fulfill, and the properties each component requires to other components. Besides, some auxiliary functions are used to define the relations between properties and the cost associated with their modification. Putting together all this information the different ways to perform a modification can be systematically generated and studied. We have applied our methodology to a medium-size system. Specifically, we dealt with an on-line intelligent tutoring system allowing users to learn the programming language Haskell.