Conclusion and Further Work

In this paper, we have outlined an overall methodology for componentware consisting of four essential building blocks: a Formal System Model , Description Techniques , a Process Model , and Tools . We have presented a modular and adaptable process model suited for componentware based on an overall result resp. task structure and a set of new roles and tasks performing process patterns to fill the result structure.

We think that this work could be part of the CBSE handbook--Chapter 2.1 and 2.2 [CBS99]. We know that we still need to provide further work, especially with respect to refining and elaborating a more detailed result structure. The final result structure will be a combination of the result structures in existing process models, like the RUP [Iva99] or the V-Model [IAB98], tailored to the specific needs of componentware. It will also be elaborated and enhanced with additional aspects, especially with respect to economical and management-related aspects. Based on this result structure, we have to work out the life-cycle and typical activities in componentware projects. Then we have to elaborate a clear understanding about the different roles and responsibilities in component-based development projects.

Finally, the proposed process model and its accompanying pattern language (cf. [BRSV98a,ABD+99]) are far from being complete--both structure and content of the pattern catalog are not sufficiently elaborated. For the CBSE handbook we have to expand and improve the patterns. Furthermore, we have to present existing process models as process patterns, as we already did in [ABD+99]. Thus, the CBSE handbook will contain a set of process patterns which can be tailored individually to the specific needs of the current project.

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