(Reference) Architecture = Components + Composition (+ Variation Points)?

Kung-Kiu Lau and Simone Di Cola
School of Computer Science
The University of Manchester
Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
kung-kiu,dicolas@cs.manchester.ac.uk

Abstract:

The notions of architecture, component and composition are
perceived differently in different communities. In order to
discuss how component-based development can contribute
to the definition and use of reference architecture in practice,
in this position paper, we outline some fundamental char-
acteristics of components and composition and posit their
relevance to reference architecture.