A case for reuse technology as a CS/IS training infrastructure

Abstract

The advent of faster computing hardware and sophisticated software tools has not brought with it the much expected panacea for the so-called software crisis, rather we are now facing a software dilemma. Otherwise we should be coping better with the software issues of: increasing complexity; ever soaring costs of development and maintenance and; a world-wide shortage of skilled man-power. This paper advocates the shifting of ground from producing graduates who always need retraining because they are ill-equipped to cope with the real issues of software. It articulates how trainers should get together to build a reuse-based infrastructure in partnership with industry and government. The proposal consists of a gentle but right-about-tum to programming by reuse (not just with objects) and engaging in a long-term research project of accumulating software components as training assets. The end result will be a virtual resource which no one can claim to own hundred percent but a tangible infrastructure for producing quality graduates of Computer Science/Information System who are well prepared to tackle the real issues.