Reference Architecture

[Francis McCabe <frankmccabe@mac.com>]

The time has come to start considering the development of a Reference  
Architecture.

The TC agreed to establish a sub-committee to pursue this, so we will  
be called the SOA RM TC RA SC !

  The first item of business is to develop a statement of purpose.

  One suggestion is:

  To develop, in accordance with the SOA RM TC Charter, a reference  
Service Oriented Architecture.

  Definition: A reference model that is mapped onto software elements  
that implements the functionality defined in the reference model.
  www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/glossary.html

  Definition: A reference architecture is an abstract set of  
mechanisms and relationships that models a predetermined set of  
requirements.
  McCabe 2006

  Keywords: abstract, mechanisms, model, requirements.

  A reference architecture can be to guide the realization of  
implementations where specific properties are desired of the concrete  
system.

  To initiate the discussion, some questions suggest themselves:

1. What requirements should be captured in a reference architecture
2. What mechanisms are required to realize those requirements
3. What is the relationship between the Reference Model and the  
Reference Architecture
4. What additional concepts (if any) to those captured in the  
Reference Model are necessary to develop an RA.

  Immediate steps
1. To agree on a statement of purpose
2. To collect requirements

Let the fur fly!

Frank McCabe