A Taxonomy of Orthogonal Properties of Software Architectures
Lars G. Bratthall, Per Runeson · Lund University Publications (Lund University) · 1999
There are several suggestions regarding the definition of the term software architecture. Yet discussions concerning the subject are ambiguous. This leads to unclear discussions and slow scientific progress. This paper suggests a coherent set of properties a Taxonomy of Orthogonal Properties of Software Architecture (TOPSA) that enables more precise communication within the software architecture domain. The TOPSA has been empirically validated by using it during an industrial development project. The paper shows some uses of the TOPSA in education and system development. It is concluded that the TOPSA is applicable for a wide range of uses. The TOPSA sharpens the conceptual tools available in the domain, resulting in more precise preservation, retrieval and use of knowledge within the software architecture domain