Software Reuse 1

Get ready! Reading

0 B efore you read th e passage, talk about 0 Read the journal article. Then, choose the
th ese questions. co rrect answ ers.

1 How can software reuse help with the software What is the purpose of the article?
crisis? A to explain the historical development of
2 What are different software reuse
software reuse B to suggest that engineers practice software
techniques? reuse
„ „ « a r e Reuse
C to list different types of software that can be
S 'o p o r t u n W e s reused
I« * * ™ C io w t h D to discuss the legal issues involved in software
reuse

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of

software reuse?
black-box reuse
A elimination of usage problems
B increased productivity for software companies
C stimulation of software companies
D improved development of compositional
Today’s demand for new software exceeds the Complexity
software
industry’s ability to produce it. If software Challenge:

companies want to overcome the software What is a problem with white-box reuse?
crisis, they must practice software reuse.
Many developers do practice software A It uses unreliable source codes.
reuse. However, the scope of some software B It leads to mistakes in software development.
is much wider than its current usage. C It does not support mass development of new
Engineers can avoid extra work by using software.
existing components to begin projects.
D It is limited in scope.
Software reuse is a common practice, but it is
often handled ineffectively. One problem is that
it typically occurs in an ad hoc manner. This Vocabulary
kind of white-box reuse does not support
0 M atch the w ords (1-7) w ith the definitions
mass development of new software. With new
software networks, engineers can improve their (A-G).
reuse techniques and increase their overall 1 __ad hoc 5 _source code
source code
productivity. Particularly smart companies can
even market their source codes as products. 2 _ COTS 6 _substance
These COTS codes would be available for 3 __product 7 __technique
black-box reuse. These would not only 4 __ scope
stimulate the software market, but also provide
substance that is tailored for reuse. A unmodified from its original state
COTS
Of course, widespread reuse of software B a skill or specific method
components would require a general change in
C the extent or area that something covers
approaches to development. Instead of
creating software that is compositional, they D the components, concepts, and procedures of
must create generative software. This could something
eliminate problems with usage. It could also E done in a particular instance only
open up new opportunities for extensive
F something that is available for purchase
software development.
G a list of commands to be executed
 Is a

© Read the sentence pairs. 0 Q Listen again and complete the conversation.
Choose where the words best
fit the blanks.
1 software reuse / software crisis
Engineer 1: I’m thinking about 1 _____________________ on
a new project. But I never tried that before. o
Engineer 2: I did 2 _____________ - ______________ on my last
A The____________________
application.
is created by a rising demand
for new applications. Engineer 1: Did it work well for you?

B ____________________ is the Engineer 2: Yeah, it was great. It really saved me a lot of 3 ______
practice of recycling pieces of
code into new applications. Engineer 1: Huh. Would you recommend black-box reuse?
Engineer 2: Yeah, it was okay. I used 4 _________________
2 approach / usage
were for sale. They were more suited to the project I was
A A(n)_________ . is a working on.
way of dealing with something.
Engineer 1: Is it possible to get source codes for free?
B Something’s ______________
Engineer 2: I think so, but they 5 ______________________as
is how it’s utilized.
specific as the kind I used.
3 black-box reuse / white-box Engineer 1: I could just do some 6 ______________________.
reuse
A ___________________ requires
engineers to modify software.
B __________________ does not
Speaking
require engineers to modify © With a partner, act out the roles below based on Task 7.
software. Then, switch roles.

4 compositional / generative USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS:

A __________________ software Do you k n o w ... / Is it possible to ... / 1could ju s t.
can easily be reused in new
systems.
B ____________ software can be
Student A: You are an engineer. Talk to Student B about:
used to create new programs.
• his or her opinion on software reuse

0 $ Listen and read the journal • different types of software reuse

article again. W hat are the • what he or she recommends
benefits of black-b o x reuse?

Student B: You are an engineer. Talk to Student A about software

Listening reuse.
^ ® Listen to a conversation
betw een tw o softw are
engineers. M a rk the following Writing
statem en ts as true (T) or
0 Use the journal article and conversation from Task 8 to
false (F).
write an email from one software engineer to another.
1 _The man was unhappy with the Include: the kind of software reuse you would
software reuse on a previous recommend, the advantages of your recommendation,
project. and the disadvantages of another kind of software
2 _The woman practiced white- reuse.
box reuse on her last project.
3 _The woman recommends that
the man try black-box reuse.