Many argue that agile software development has been derived from borrowing processes and ideologies from manufacturing. In many ways, software engineering can be compared to factory work. In IT terminology, a 'software factory' refers to a software product line that can configure tools, processes and content extensively through a schema-based template.
Software factories in effect can automate the development and maintenance of different variants of a typical product. It does so by adapting, assembling, and configuring framework-based component pieces.
What is new about automation in software engineering and enterprise software architecture you may ask? Automation has been part of the evolution of IT as a core for many decades now. However, the software factory framework is not just about automation, but is about automating 'intelligently'. Automation in a software factory is usually driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
How does a software factory drive efficiencies?
IT coding requires a software engineer (similar to requiring a skilled craftsman in traditional manufacturing). To increase efficiencies this coding is eliminated from the application layer processes. The software is created by assembling predefined components instead of using traditional Integrated Development Environments (IDEs).
Traditional IT coding is reserved only where new components or services need to be created. The software engineering part is left to the creation of components and requirement gathering for the system. Much like the engineering part is left in traditional manufacturing. A software factory effectively breaks down applications into various components for efficient and faster development.
What are the various components in a Software Factory?
Factory Schema: This is a document that is used to categorize and summarize the assets used to build and maintain a system. These can be XML documents, models, etc. It also defines relationships between assets.
Reference Implementation: This is referred to as an example of a realistic, finished product that a software factory can help developers build.
Architecture Guidance Patterns: These define application design choices and why those choices were made.
How-to: These contain detailed procedures and instructions for completing tasks.
Recipes: These are the automation processes in How-tos that help software developers complete regular routine tasks with little to no input.
Templates: Ready-made application development elements with placeholders for arguments, usually used for creating initial project items.
Designers: Developers use information from designers to model applications with higher abstract levels.
Reusable Code: These refer to components that implement common mechanisms or functions. Reusable code in a software factory negates the need for manually written code in many areas and encourages reuse across applications.
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