Home // ICONS 2012, The Seventh International Conference on Systems // View article

Exploring Entropy in Software Systems: Towards a Precise Definition and Design Rules

Authors:
Herwig Mannaert
Peter De Bruyn
Jan Verelst

Keywords: Normalized Systems, Entropy, Systems engineering, Evolvability

Abstract:
Software systems need to be agile in order to continuously adapt to changing business requirements. Nevertheless, many organizations report difficulties while trying to adapt their software applications. Normalized Systems (NS) theory has previously been able to introduce a proven degree of evolvable modularity into software systems, based on the systems theoretic notion of stability. In this paper, we explore the applicability of this other fundamental property of systems (i.e., entropy) to the issues of software maintenance and evolvability. The underlying concepts in entropy definitions will be explained and applied to software systems and architectures. Further, the considerable complexity of running multi-tier multi-threading software systems and the relation with entropy concepts is discussed and illustrated. Finally, the concordance of design rules for controlling that entropy with previously formulated NS principles is explored.

Pages: 93 to 99

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2012

Publication date: February 29, 2012

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4243

ISBN: 978-1-61208-184-7

Location: Saint Gilles, Reunion

Dates: from February 29, 2012 to March 5, 2012