Design-related reuse problems-an experience report

This paper reports on a research project within the Daimler-Benz group that identified problems in an existing very large software asset that hampered a successful reuse of components. After a general view on reuse-related problems, the focus of the paper is set on problems in this software asset. It presents an architectural analysis as an approach for the identification of these problems. A set of problem types and corresponding solutions are described. The bad rules that cause these problems are identified and a set of good rules are recommended to overcome such problems. Finally, experiences with the current tool support are roughly outlined and an introduction to Esprit's Project Famoos, that works on improved tool support, is given.