Entry Mays:1994:FSB from ibmsysj.bib

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BibTeX entry

@Article{Mays:1994:FSB,
  author =       "R. G. Mays",
  title =        "Forging a silver bullet from the essence of software",
  journal =      j-IBM-SYS-J,
  volume =       "33",
  number =       "1",
  pages =        "20--45",
  year =         "1994",
  CODEN =        "IBMSA7",
  ISSN =         "0018-8670",
  bibdate =      "Tue Mar 19 17:38:46 1996",
  note =         "G321-5531.",
  URL =          "http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj33-1.html#three",
  abstract =     "Most improvements in software development technology
                 have occurred by eliminating the accidental aspects of
                 the technology. Further progress now depends on
                 addressing the essence of software. Fred Brooks (F. P.
                 Brooks, No Silver Bullet: Essence and Accidents of
                 Software Engineering, Computer, vol. 20, No. 4,
                 p.10-19, April 1987) has characterized the essence of
                 software as a complex construct of interlocking
                 concepts. He concludes that no silver bullet will
                 magically reduce the essential conceptual complexity of
                 software. This paper expands on Brooks's definition to
                 lay a foundation for forging a possible silver bullet.
                 The three essential attributes of software entities are
                 discussed from which a number of consequences arise in
                 software development (1) conceptual content, (2)
                 representation, and (3) multiple subdomains. Four basic
                 approaches to develop technologies are proposed that
                 directly address the essential attributes. Although
                 some of these technologies require additional
                 development or testing, they present the most promise
                 for forging a silver bullet. Among them, design
                 reabstraction addresses the most difficult attribute,
                 multiple subdomains, and the most difficult
                 consequence, enhancing existing code, making it the
                 best prospect.",
  acknowledgement = ack-nhfb,
  affiliation =  "Networking Software Div., IBM Corp., Research Triangle
                 Park, NC, USA",
  classification = "C6110B (Software engineering techniques)",
  keywords =     "Conceptual complexity; Conceptual content; Design
                 reabstraction; Essence of software; Multiple
                 subdomains; Representation; Silver bullet; Software
                 development; Software development technology",
  language =     "English",
  pubcountry =   "USA",
  thesaurus =    "Software engineering; Software metrics",
}

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