ABSTRACT
This chapter emphasizes the basic property of component-based software engineering—reusability—with a detailed study of the reusability aspects of software artifacts and work products. Reusability metrics are defined and application of the properties of reusability is discussed. Components are here divided into four broad categories: new components developed from the beginning, partially qualified components that can be reused after making major changes, fully qualified components that can be reused after making minor modifications in the components, and off-the-shelf components that can be reused as they are in the development. Reusability metrics are defined on the basis of their modifiability. The chapter defines a reusability matrix on the basis of level of component reuse. A case study looks at implementation of the reusability metrics and reusability matrix discussed. This case study discusses the role of reusability in component selection and verification in the development of component-based software.
