Distributed network of reuse libraries offers the best approach to successful software reuse

Much has been published on the benefits of software reuse. There are many activities associated with reuse ranging from domain analysis to design for reuse. For software reuse to be successful, to fulfil the return on investment, and realize the benefits, the reuser must be able to find, evaluate, and extract the assets. Software reuse libraries offer services that include classification and cataloging, certification, storage, search, extraction, and maintenance. All of these functions are required for the full potential of software reuse to be realized. A reusable software library is necessary but not sufficient for a successful reuse program. A system of libraries distributed organizationally, functionally, and geographically will provide the greatest opportunity for software practitioners to realize the benefits offered by reusing software assets. For a distributed network to exist the members must be diverse, i.e., consisting of government, industry, and academia, and offer reusable assets that are private, commercial, proprietary, public domain, and government owned