Reuse Readiness Levels as a Measure of Software Reusability

The reuse of software and related artifacts offers the potential for cost savings in various industries and has contributed to the development of the cyberinfrastructure that is used by the Earth science community. Developing measures that enable the assessment of software in terms of its potential reusability can contribute to efforts of both developers and reusers of software. Draft Reuse Readiness Levels (RRLs) have been developed as an instrument for assessing the maturity of software products for potential reuse. The process employed to develop the draft RRLs is described, and the initial summary of topic areas defined for each level is presented. Based on recommendations from the community of Earth science data systems software developers, areas for improving the precision of the draft RRLs have been identified and an approach for identifying enhancements is described.