Concept: Development and Integration Areas

A system is typically implemented by teams of individual implementers working together and in parallel. To make this possible, several work areas are needed. Examples of such areas are:

• A development area for each individual implementer.
• An integration area for the team.
• An integration area for the system integrators.

Development Areas

The individual implementer has a development area where she implements the subsystems and the contained components, that she is responsible for. To compile, link, execute and test, the code in the subsystem, other parts of the system are needed. Normally the implementer does not need the entire system to develop her subsystem. Instead it is enough to have the subsystems required to compile, link and execute the subsystem in the development area. These other subsystems do not have to reside in the implementer's private development area, as physical copies. Instead they can reside in a common repository, with the internally released subsystems. When the implementer compiles the precise location of the other subsystems it is defined in a separate file, for example, a makefile.

Example:

The Monthly Account Telephone subsystem (in a banking system) needs the subsystems that are directly, or indirectly imported by the subsystem to compile, link and execute, its components. In this case six of the ten subsystems will be needed for the implementers of the Monthly Account Telephone subsystem.

The development area for an implementer of the subsystem Monthly Account Telephone.

Integration Area for the Team

In some cases there is a team of implementers that may be simultaneously developing the same subsystem. In this instance implementers need to integrate their components into a subsystem before it can be propagated onto system integration. Team integration is often done in a team integration area, dedicated to the integration of the individual team members work. One of the implementers is responsible for the integration area, and to do the integration.

Another strategy for team integration is to designate one of individual's development areas, as a place holder for all team developed work, and thereby serve as the team integration area.

Integration Area for System Integrators

A system integrator has an integration area (integration workspace) where she can add one or several software components (one or several components) or one or several subsystems at a time, to create builds that are integration tested.

A integration area for a system integrator where subsystems are added in each integration increment.