Re: Reserve Demobilization System Built Around Reused Ada Code

[jbg@sei.cmu.edu (John Goodenough)]

In article Re: Reserve Demobilization System Built Around Reused Ada Code of 30 May 91 18:30:53 GMT chuck@brain.UUCP writes:

> code. It is misleading to the customer and the industry at large to portray
> such development efforts as true reuse. I am NOT demeaning the achievement.
> Let's just call a spade a spade. Maybe "rapid tailoring" or "rapid reengineering"
> is a more suitable term for this type of approach.

It is my impression that the figures quoted for high levels of software reuse
and productivity in Japan are often based on just this kind of "rapid
tailoring" or "rapid reengineering".  I remember a paper some years ago
concerned with generating process control software by a Japanese company in
which they reported high levels of software reuse because they were tailoring
their standard software to each customer's needs.  Should we call it reuse
when the end user is different, and otherwise call it enhancement?  Depends on
what techno-political games you want to play...

John B. Goodenough					Goodenough@sei.cmu.edu
Software Engineering Institute				412-268-6391