Reuse has often been touted as an approach to solving issues, such as time to market and solution quality. Reuse over the years has taken on a number of forms, ranging from copy and paste of code, reuse of objects, reuse of components, to more recently the reuse of services. However, we still find ourselves running late on our projects (when we do deliver) and having poor quality.

Unfortunately, we often underestimate the effort and forethought needed in creating a successful reuse program within an organization. Successful reuse is not something that happens by accident or by just wishing it to be true.

This IBM Redbooks publication is focused on a best practice-based approach to strategic reuse within software delivery, known as Asset-Based Development, that will assist in addressing these issues. We do not contend that this is the “silver bullet” that will fix all of the issues that ail software delivery. However, Asset-Based Development is a key tool that needs to be found within the tool chest of all software development organizations (or at least those that want to succeed).

This book is intended for all individuals who want to implement or understand strategic reuse with Rational Asset Manager.

Part 1. Introduction

Chapter 1. Introduction to Asset-Based Development

Chapter 2. ZYX Electronics case study

Chapter 3. Tools in support of Asset-Based Development

Chapter 4. Introduction to the IBM Rational Unified Process

Chapter 5. Asset-Based Development and Asset Governance Rational Method Composer plug-ins

Chapter 6. Value, impact, and return on investment

Part 2. Reusable Assets

Chapter 7. Adopting Asset-Based Development

Chapter 8. Configure your asset repository

Chapter 9. Produce reusable assets

Chapter 10. Consume reusable assets

Chapter 11. Manage reusable assets

Part 3. Service Assets in an SOA

Chapter 12. Introduction to service assets

Chapter 13. Producing service assets

Chapter 14. Consuming service assets

Chapter 15. Managing service assets

Part 4. Patterns

Chapter 16. Introduction to patterns

Chapter 17. Produce: Model-to-text pattern implementations

Chapter 18. Produce: Model-to-model

Chapter 19. Produce: Packaging for deployment

Chapter 20. Consuming pattern implementations

Chapter 21. Managing pattern implementation assets

Appendix A. Rational Asset Manager: Installation and administration

Appendix B. Integrating Asset-Based Development into a process

Appendix C. Additional material