A heuristic approach to architectural design of software-intensive product platforms

Abstract

This chapter introduces a heuristic approach for the analysis, architecting, and design of software-centric product platforms. The central role of software architecture is stressed by highlighting its relationship to the analysis of new product domains. Several case studies are used to illustrate key concepts, including a more detailed case on the design of an object-oriented application framework as platform for a family of products that control industrial processing machines. Case studies and methodology are linked to important software engineering design principles. At the end of the detailed case study, an approximate measure of code reuse and its economic impact is presented, which can serve to support the business case of making the significant investment required by a software platform for a family of related products. This chapter builds on fundamental software engineering concepts introduced in Chap. 21.