1972/12/01 by David Lorge Parnas · 10 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Computer Science · Mathematics · #Advanced Software Engineering Methodologies #Computer science #Decomposition #Flexibility (engineering) #Mathematics #Modular programming #Product Development and Customization #Programming language #Software Engineering Research #Subroutine
paper · pdf · doi:10.1145/361598.361623
openalex publication_date 1972/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
This paper discusses modularization as a mechanism for improving the flexibility and comprehensibility of a system while allowing the shortening of its development time. The effectiveness of a “modularization” is dependent upon the criteria used in dividing the system into modules. A system design problem is presented and both a conventional and unconventional decomposition are described. It is shown that the unconventional decompositions have distinct advantages for the goals outlined. The criteria used in arriving at the decompositions are discussed. The unconventional decomposition, if implemented with the conventional assumption that a module consists of one or more subroutines, will be less efficient in most cases. An alternative approach to implementation which does not have this effect is sketched.