Software components are increasingly central to efficient, cost-effective software development. In this book, the world's leading experts on component software development come together to present the field's state of the art, and to offer new insights into the key challenges of component architecture and reuse. With original contributions by leaders such as Ivar Jacobson, Martin Griss, Len Bass, Paul Clements, Don Reifer, and Will Tracz, this carefully edited book is the first word on components: a tool for helping practitioners get the most out of all their component-based resources. It offers new insight for deciding whether and how to implement component-based development strategies; as well as a clear understanding of the obstacles to successful component development, and best practices responses.