SDCS: six-dimensional classification strategy framework for COTS products

Component-based software development (CBSD) has given a new direction for developing just-in-time to market, cost-effective, easily maintainable and customer requirement-based software systems. Using CBSD, software systems can be built by two techniques. The first technique involves integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components with the existing system while with the second technique a whole new system can be developed by identifying and integrating appropriate COTS. This has lead to a major issue of how to classify COTS products. Classification can help both industry as well as researchers to assess and compare COTS products. This can be achieved by evolving and identifying appropriate classes on the basis of classification attributes. This paper discusses six-dimensional classification strategy framework for COTS products.