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component software Last modified: Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Sometimes called componentware, software designed to work as a component of a larger application. A good analogy is the way personal computers are built up from a collection of standard components: memory chips, CPUs, buses, keyboards, mice, disk drives, monitors, etc. Because all of the interfaces between components are standardized, it is possible to mix components from different manufacturers in a single system. Similarly, the goal of component software is to standardize the interfaces between software components so that they too can work together seamlessly. Two standards -- OLE and OpenDoc -- are designed to help programmers develop components that can work together. Many analysts believe that component software is the natural extension of object-oriented programming and that it will become the standard programming paradigm for years to come.

Embedding components using OpenDoc This article is part of a series discussing OpenDoc technology. There is information on how to embed components in documents, as well as many practical visual examples. Component Software Glossary A glossary of terms central to component software.