SEIC News, Nov. 22, 1996

SEIC News, Nov. 22, 1996

[SEIC]

Software Engineering News Brief
Week Ending:  November 22, 1996.

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GAIN FROM FRAME
Topic:  Reuse

Sean Gallagher's recent article profiles frame technology software 
development as being more efficient than object-oriented programming 
development, especially for code reuse. Most object-oriented software uses 
inheritance for code reuse. This method leads to creation of numerous 
subclasses when modifying the original codes. Frame technology is more 
flexible, with reuse being set at the time of program construction. 
Components are specified, such as identification and current status, when 
programming and adjusted to suit the developers needs as alterations are 
made to the code. One great advantage to frame technology over 
object-oriented technology is that development costs and marketing times 
are 84% and 70% less than the industry standards, respectively.

SOURCE:  Gallagher, Sean.  Information Week, Oct. 7, 1996, n600 p73(2).  
Copyright 1996 CMP Publications Inc.

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NEW AND IMPROVED ADA JOBS PAGE ON-LINE
Topic:  Ada

The Ada Information Clearinghouse (AdaIC) has unveiled its new and 
improved Ada Jobs WWW page.  The page is located on the AdaIC WWW site at 
<http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us/AdaIC/jobs/index.shtml>.  The new page
saves time and effort by allowing readers to post their own Ada jobs 
listings, instead of first having to submit the information to the AdaIC.  
By posting a listing and then clicking the "reload" button, readers can 
view their messages immediately.  

In addition to current Ada employment opportunities, postings can include
links to recruiters' pages, images, and articles related to the Ada job 
market.

For further information, contact the AdaIC at 1-800/AdaIC-11 (232-4211).

SOURCE:  AdaIC

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DON'T WASTE CODE, REUSE IT
Topic:  Reuse

With shrinking development cycles, increased competitive and customer
demands and skyrocketing costs, software development organizations are
striving to implement software reuse as part of their development
strategy.

The idea is simple: "recycle" the most valuable existing software components
into new strategic applications.  While the importance of reuse is 
straightforward, the implementation does require planning and commitment 
from both management and software developers.

Reuse enables companies to grow continuously and efficiently by bringing in
new business without the expenditures and risks usually associated with
creating a product entirely from scratch.

Additionally, rapid proliferation of software makes development expertise
ever more precious. Hence, "reinventing the wheel" becomes extremely
expensive since it consumes the most experienced and valuable software
developers, barring them from creating advanced applications necessary for
business growth.

So how can companies effectively and consistently leverage their existing
software for future growth?

Development organizations must first have a clear picture of their existing
code. With many companies' software running into millions or multiple
millions of lines, this is a challenge in and of itself.

Secondly, a software component targeted for reuse does not, most likely, fit
its new usage objective. Moreover, in order to "transplant" this component
it is necessary to carve out enough of the component's
surroundings to make the transplant operational. To address this issue,
organizations must run a thorough analysis to assure completeness. Without
this, the reused software will not perform with the intended
functionality.

SOURCE:  Geisberg, Vladimir.  Computing Canada.  September 12, 1996, v22 
n19 p39(1).  Copyright 1996 Plesman Publications Ltd. (Canada).

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DACS WWW PAGE GETS NEW LOOK
Topic:  Reuse

Visit the Data & Analysis Center for Software (DACS) WWW site, 
<http://www.dacs>, for information on software technology.  In addition 
to doing some remodeling, the site has been reorganized for easier 
navigation and has introduced "DACS Software Topics"--information 
rich collections that focus on a variety of technology areas including 
the topic of software reuse.

SOURCE:  Levine, Trudy.  ACM Ada Letters, November/December 1996, v16 n6 
p38.

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ENHANCED DISCOVERING ADA CD-ROM NOW AVAILABLE
Topic:  Ada

The Discovering Ada (DA) CD-ROM, Version 2.0, is now available.  DA is 
an interactive multimedia Ada 95 tutorial produced by Intermetrics, Inc.  
It is intended to help Ada 83 and non-Ada programmers familiarize 
themselves with Ada 95.  For DA 2.0, Intermetrics has corrected bugs 
reported in Version 1.0, added a tutorial on Web Applets in Ada 95 and  
syntax reference diagrams, and included the Ada 95 Rationale.

The Ada Joint Program Office (AJPO) is distributing free copies of 
Version 2.0 to the Service Academies, Colleges and Universities, and Program 
Managers via the Ada Information Clearinghouse (AdaIC).  Interested 
parties should contact the AdaIC by phone at 1-800/AdaIC-11, or via e-mail
at <adainfo@sw-eng.falls-church.va.us>.

Version 2.0 will be available commercially in December through 
Intermetrics. For more information on commercial distribution, contact 
Paige Conrad, Intermetrics, Inc., 617/661-1840, <pconrad@inmet.com>.

SOURCE:  Ada Joint Program Office

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RIAT LOOKING FOR MEMBERS
Topic:  Reuse

The Reuse Issues Action Team (RIAT) is an Action Oriented Group sponsored 
by the SIGAda Reuse Working Group of the Association for Computing 
Machinery.  The RIAT supports and promotes the integration of software 
reuse into the software systems engineering processes for Government and 
industry.  The RIAT concentrates on the mangement and business aspects of 
reuse.

Membership in the RIAT is open to all persons who support the purpose of 
RIAT and will actively participate.  Membership is voluntary and meetings 
are held monthly.  Visit the RIAT web pages at 
<http://columbia.ivv.nasa.gov:6600/riat/>.

SOURCE:  Levine, Trudy.  ACM Ada Letters, November/December 1996, v16 n6 
p39.

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