Abstract:

Some researchers consider Components Based Software Engineering (CBSE) to 
be a significant step beyond Object oriented Programming. Constructing 
programs from a set of ready made high level software components saves 
coding and shortens the development time. This technique involves, 
however, some difficulties. We show that some of these difficulties may be 
overcome by employing semantic interfaces.  This solution is demonstrated 
by our experimental framework, WebSI for the construction of WEB based 
information systems. Within this framework, the code of the graphical user 
interface (GUI) and the code of the applications logic are in two separate 
components. A  'GUI component' developed by this framework may be reused 
in different application programs.. Porting an application program to 
another platform, say from a PC to a cellular phone, may be done by 
combining its 'application logic component' with a 'GUI component' 
designed for the new platform. No changes in the code of the application 
logic component are required, i.e. the same single 'application logic 
component' runs in all platforms. The limitations and potential of this 
approach as well as open CBSE problems are discussed.