Glossary of Reuse Terms

Revised: 18 April 1999

Term

Meaning

Access Control

Security feature of a library mechanism that manages access to assets; security feature of a reuse library that manages access to subscriber services. [RIG]

Accessibility

An indication of the extent to which the reuse library is available, as determined by policy, network connectivity, communications support and special hardware/software requirements. [RIG]

Accountability

An indication of the reuse library's capability to collect, document and utilize audit trails, usage statistics, behavior patterns and other metrics to support enforcement and continuous improvement of its policies and procedures. [RIG]

Adaptability

An indication of a library mechanism's capability to represent multiple data models, user defined data models and other user defined tailoring, and the ability to support multiple organizations' policies. [RIG]

Asset

(1) An item of interest which is stored in a reuse library, such as design documentation, specifications, source code, documentation, test suites, etc., or any other unit of information of potential value to a reuser.(2) A class in the BIDM that models assets in reuse libraries. Asset will always be capitalized when referring to the class Asset. [RIG]

Asset Connectivity

A library mechanism's ability to represent associations among assets such as dependencies, variations, specializations, etc. [RIG]

Asset Qualification

The process of determining whether an asset conforms to predefined criteria appropriate to that type of asset; also the result of the process. [RIG]

Attribute

(1) Value assigned to an attribute type for a particular asset in a reuse library. (2) A predefined characteristic that provides a property of a class in the BIDM. Properties are inherited from a class to its subclasses. [RIG]

Attribute Type

Characteristic of an asset which is included in a library mechanism's data model. (e.g. metrics, usage history) [RIG]

Auditability

An indication of the library mechanism's capability to support the capture of the reuse library usage statistics, behavior patterns, and other reuse library metrics. [RIG]

Availability

An indication of the duration and consistency of scheduled hours of reuse library operations. [RIG]

Browse

To navigate through a reuse library and examine information about assets as well as the actual assets. [RIG]

Basic Interoperability Data Model (BIDM)

A subset of the Uniform Data Model which defines the minimal set of information that reuse libraries should be able to exchange about assets in order to interoperate. [RIG]

Catalog

A collection of asset meta-data that is maintained for the purpose of assisting users in searching for assets in a reuse library. [RIG]

Class

A grouping of similar objects that have the same structure but potentially different attribute and relationship values. [RIG]

Class Hierarchy

An ordering of classes, in which a subclass is a specialization of its superclass. A class inherits attributes and relationships from its superclass and can define additional attributes and relationships of its own. [RIG]

Classification

The manner in which the assets are organized for ease of search and extraction within a reuse library. [RIG]

Data Model

A description of the structuring of and meaning of the meta-data in a catalog, typically expressed as a set of attribute type definitions. [RIG]

Domain

An area of activity or knowledge containing applications sharing a set of common capabilities and data. [RIG]

Domain Analysis

The process of isolating, characterizing, and abstracting important information to support reuse within or about an application domain. [RIG]

Extraction

Capability provided by a library mechanism or reuse library to retrieve assets from the reuse library. [RIG]

Feedback

Collection of information gathered by a reuse library pertaining to the usage of an asset. [RIG]

Flexibility

An indication of a reuse library's ability to accommodate enhancements to the data model and contents, as well as changes to subscriber and internal requirements, such as handling of proprietary software, organizational policies and new technology. [RIG]

Interoperability

The capability to exchange assets, asset descriptions, and other information among reuse libraries. [RIG]

Library Data Model

The organizing principles and concepts underlying structured data in a reuse library and the means of representing that structure. [RIG]

Library Mechanism

An automated tool that supports classification, search, browsing, and extraction of assets. [RIG]

Library Metrics

A standard of measure that can support quantitative comparisons and evaluations related to reuse library operations. [RIG]

Meta-data

A group of attributes which describe an asset and may be included in a reuse library's catalog. [RIG]

Meta Model

A set of rules for describing and building data models. [RIG]

Notification

Informational message posted to reuse library users of assets regarding extracted assets or an informational message between two interoperating reuse libraries. [RIG]

Object

A representation of a real-world entity. An object is an instance of a class and has values for the attributes and relationships defined for that class. [RIG]

Platform

The basic set of system resources on which the library mechanism executes (e.g., hardware, operating system and DBMS or object management system, proprietary and COTS software). [RIG]

Query

Specification of a set of criteria used by the library mechanism when searching for assets. [RIG]

Relationship

An association between two classes. [RIG]

Reliability

An indication of whether a library mechanism's performance consistently matches its specifications. [RIG]

Reusability

Extent to which an asset is able to be used in different contexts. [RIG]

Reuse

The use of an existing asset in a new context, either elsewhere on the same system or in another system with or without modifications to the asset. [RIG]

Reuse Library

Consists of a collection of assets; a community of subscribers (even if restricted); a set of operational policies and procedures; a library mechanism; and support services (e.g., User's Manual, on-line help) for subscribers. [RIG]

Reuser

An individual or organization that reuses an asset. [RIG]

Scaleability

An indication of the ability to increase the number, diversity and size of assets that can be managed by a library mechanism. [RIG]

Search

To query a library mechanism to locate assets within a reuse library. [RIG]

Subscriber

User of the products and services of a reuse library. [RIG]

Subscriber Services

Services (e.g., User's Manual, hot-line support, help desk, online help) provided to the subscriber in order to support utilization of the reuse library. [RIG]

Uniform Data Model

A standard library data model which provides the basis for exchange of library data among distinct reuse libraries. [RIG]

Useability

An indication of the ease of use versus the effectiveness of subscriber services of a reuse library and its library mechanism. [RIG]

References and Sources

Reference Source

RIG Reuse Library Interoperability Group (RIG) Glossary, found on the Ada and Software Engineering (ASE) CDROM.

Term	Meaning
Access Control	Security feature of a library mechanism that manages access to assets; security feature of a reuse library that manages access to subscriber services. [RIG]
Accessibility	An indication of the extent to which the reuse library is available, as determined by policy, network connectivity, communications support and special hardware/software requirements. [RIG]
Accountability	An indication of the reuse library's capability to collect, document and utilize audit trails, usage statistics, behavior patterns and other metrics to support enforcement and continuous improvement of its policies and procedures. [RIG]
Adaptability	An indication of a library mechanism's capability to represent multiple data models, user defined data models and other user defined tailoring, and the ability to support multiple organizations' policies. [RIG]
Asset	(1) An item of interest which is stored in a reuse library, such as design documentation, specifications, source code, documentation, test suites, etc., or any other unit of information of potential value to a reuser.(2) A class in the BIDM that models assets in reuse libraries. Asset will always be capitalized when referring to the class Asset. [RIG]
Asset Connectivity	A library mechanism's ability to represent associations among assets such as dependencies, variations, specializations, etc. [RIG]
Asset Qualification	The process of determining whether an asset conforms to predefined criteria appropriate to that type of asset; also the result of the process. [RIG]
Attribute	(1) Value assigned to an attribute type for a particular asset in a reuse library. (2) A predefined characteristic that provides a property of a class in the BIDM. Properties are inherited from a class to its subclasses. [RIG]
Attribute Type	Characteristic of an asset which is included in a library mechanism's data model. (e.g. metrics, usage history) [RIG]
Auditability	An indication of the library mechanism's capability to support the capture of the reuse library usage statistics, behavior patterns, and other reuse library metrics. [RIG]
Availability	An indication of the duration and consistency of scheduled hours of reuse library operations. [RIG]
Browse	To navigate through a reuse library and examine information about assets as well as the actual assets. [RIG]
Basic Interoperability Data Model (BIDM)	A subset of the Uniform Data Model which defines the minimal set of information that reuse libraries should be able to exchange about assets in order to interoperate. [RIG]
Catalog	A collection of asset meta-data that is maintained for the purpose of assisting users in searching for assets in a reuse library. [RIG]
Class	A grouping of similar objects that have the same structure but potentially different attribute and relationship values. [RIG]
Class Hierarchy	An ordering of classes, in which a subclass is a specialization of its superclass. A class inherits attributes and relationships from its superclass and can define additional attributes and relationships of its own. [RIG]
Classification	The manner in which the assets are organized for ease of search and extraction within a reuse library. [RIG]
Data Model	A description of the structuring of and meaning of the meta-data in a catalog, typically expressed as a set of attribute type definitions. [RIG]
Domain	An area of activity or knowledge containing applications sharing a set of common capabilities and data. [RIG]
Domain Analysis	The process of isolating, characterizing, and abstracting important information to support reuse within or about an application domain. [RIG]
Extraction	Capability provided by a library mechanism or reuse library to retrieve assets from the reuse library. [RIG]
Feedback	Collection of information gathered by a reuse library pertaining to the usage of an asset. [RIG]
Flexibility	An indication of a reuse library's ability to accommodate enhancements to the data model and contents, as well as changes to subscriber and internal requirements, such as handling of proprietary software, organizational policies and new technology. [RIG]
Interoperability	The capability to exchange assets, asset descriptions, and other information among reuse libraries. [RIG]
Library Data Model	The organizing principles and concepts underlying structured data in a reuse library and the means of representing that structure. [RIG]
Library Mechanism	An automated tool that supports classification, search, browsing, and extraction of assets. [RIG]
Library Metrics	A standard of measure that can support quantitative comparisons and evaluations related to reuse library operations. [RIG]
Meta-data	A group of attributes which describe an asset and may be included in a reuse library's catalog. [RIG]
Meta Model	A set of rules for describing and building data models. [RIG]
Notification	Informational message posted to reuse library users of assets regarding extracted assets or an informational message between two interoperating reuse libraries. [RIG]
Object	A representation of a real-world entity. An object is an instance of a class and has values for the attributes and relationships defined for that class. [RIG]
Platform	The basic set of system resources on which the library mechanism executes (e.g., hardware, operating system and DBMS or object management system, proprietary and COTS software). [RIG]
Query	Specification of a set of criteria used by the library mechanism when searching for assets. [RIG]
Relationship	An association between two classes. [RIG]
Reliability	An indication of whether a library mechanism's performance consistently matches its specifications. [RIG]
Reusability	Extent to which an asset is able to be used in different contexts. [RIG]
Reuse	The use of an existing asset in a new context, either elsewhere on the same system or in another system with or without modifications to the asset. [RIG]
Reuse Library	Consists of a collection of assets; a community of subscribers (even if restricted); a set of operational policies and procedures; a library mechanism; and support services (e.g., User's Manual, on-line help) for subscribers. [RIG]
Reuser	An individual or organization that reuses an asset. [RIG]
Scaleability	An indication of the ability to increase the number, diversity and size of assets that can be managed by a library mechanism. [RIG]
Search	To query a library mechanism to locate assets within a reuse library. [RIG]
Subscriber	User of the products and services of a reuse library. [RIG]
Subscriber Services	Services (e.g., User's Manual, hot-line support, help desk, online help) provided to the subscriber in order to support utilization of the reuse library. [RIG]
Uniform Data Model	A standard library data model which provides the basis for exchange of library data among distinct reuse libraries. [RIG]
Useability	An indication of the ease of use versus the effectiveness of subscriber services of a reuse library and its library mechanism. [RIG]