A methodology for reusing software components in network design

This paper proposes a methodology for reusing graph theory algorithms in telecommunications network design. First, it characterizes the different situations where the basic algorithms of graph theory could be reused. Then, it states the principles for adapting software components by following three main steps: selection, modification and integration. The implementation and test of this methodology show that reusing software components can significantly improve network designers' productivity, as well as the quality of network design software, since the reused components are in general intensively tested in a wide variety of situations.