Re: [soa-rm-ra] How to Refer to Various Uses of the word "machine"

[Danny Thornton <danny_thornton2@yahoo.com>]

One opinion for machine: 

When I use the term machine I use it as a metaphor to
convey something meaningful being built with many
working parts.  For me, the term machine does not take
on the formality of an embedded part of the design of
a software architecture.  In other words, the term
machine sounds good for slide presenations, marketing
purposes, and to gain interest but it does not look
good as a term in a formal software reference
architecture.  

The term "machine" does show up twice in the Goals,
Critical Success Factors, and Requirements.  The first
usage is consistent with using machine as a metaphor:

A reference architecture is like an abstract machine.

The second usage could raise a question about what
kind of machine:

Any machine is necesssarily broad in its applicability
and is often under-constrained.

Many engineers might think of several kinds of
machines that are not broad in their applicability and
are not under-constrained.  

Other opinions?

Danny



--- Michael Stiefel <development@reliablesoftware.com>
wrote:

> As I start to write my sections for the RA,  I find
> myself using the word 
> machine in several contexts and I wonder if we can
> come up with a way to 
> use these words that will be consistent through out
> our document.
> 
> One use of the word machine comes from our current
> use of the machine 
> metaphor for describing the RA.  I find phrases as
> the "SOA RA machine" to 
> be quite awkward. Another use of the word machine is
> a device such as a 
> computer that might be using the services of a
> particular SOA.  If the term 
> machine is used unmodified it is often unclear to
> which machine one is 
> referring.
> 
> I am sure we will find others.
> 
> Michael
> 
> 
> 


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