NASA Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Software Reuse Working Group

1. NASA Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS)Software Reuse Working Group Robert Wolfe (NASA GSFC), co-chair CEOS WIGSS-22 Annapolis, MD September 13, 2006

2. Reuse Working Group (WG)Mission / Objectives • Drive down the cost and time of system/software development and reduce or eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort. • Increase flexibility and responsiveness relative to Earth science community needs and technological opportunities. • Increase effective and accountable community participation. • Increase productivity and improve quality through reuse. • Increase the number of available reusable assets.

3. Reuse WG Charter Highlights • Purpose • Address technical issues required to enable and facilitate reuse of software assets, including open source products, within the NASA Earth science community • Goals • Demonstrate the feasibility and value of reuse • Increase the supply and availability of reusable assets • Make recognizable and easy-to-evaluate candidate reuse solutions • Minimize the cost of infrastructure activities to support the community’s reuse activities • Increase community capacity and interest in reusing existing assets • Contribute to the removal of existing barriers to reuse • Recommend incentives to encourage reuse • Scope • Facilitating reuse across projects and not interfering with local control of participating systems • Focusing on reuse process and not on technology infusion process • Focusing on reuse of existing assets rather than reusability of newly developed assets • Focusing not only on software code, but also on design artifacts (architectures, software designs, ICDs, test plans, etc.) • Focusing on reuse of proven operational and NASA Earth science specific software assets

4. Reuse WG Activities • Examples of work in some of these areas include: • Recommending that NASA create a Reuse Enablement System (repository) for Earth science reusable software assets • Creating a web site to promote and provide information about reuse • Providing policy recommendations to NASA to help encourage reuse Reuse Implementation Projects Efforts that result in the publication or use of a reusable component Reuse Incentive Activities Awards and structural changes that directly or indirectly encourage reuse Support/Enablement Activities Efforts that provide tools and mechanisms to enable reuse Outreach and Education Activities Efforts that increase community awareness and understanding of benefits, best practices, etc. Policy Change Activities Efforts to reduce policy barriers to reuse

5. Reuse Surveys • A survey on the reuse practices of the Earth science community was conducted in 2004, and repeated in 2005 with OMB approval and a wider audience • Both surveys show the same basic results: • Developers need to be able to easily locate and evaluate available reusable artifacts. • Top three motivations for reuse match the WG goals: • Saving time • Ensuring reliability • Saving money • Top three factors to increase reuse: • Earth science catalog/repository of reusable assets • Greater use of open source licensing • More education and guidance on reuse • Top two barriers to reuse: • Did not know reusable assets existed • Did not know where to look for reusable assets Areas where the WG can provide help.

6. Reuse Enablement System (RES) • Proposed an Earth science repository/catalog system to meet the needs of the software developer community by helping users find and obtain reusable software assets suitable for their needs. • Performed a trade study to demonstrate the need for a new system • Currently preparing an architecture study on the best way to develop a new system • Formal requirements statements finalized and documented • Examining software packages to create prototype systems for testing/evaluation and requirements matching • Creation of a Reuse Enablement System would: • Be a major factor for increasing reuse (#1 in the 2005 survey) • Help break down the primary barriers to reuse

7. Potential RES Structure A web interface will provide users with easy access to the system. Web Site Interface for Users Customized Component Customized Component Customized Component Customized components will be used to provide functionality beyond what the base system provides. Existing Catalog/Repository System Software Goal is to provide a catalog/repository system that is easy to use by reusing existing components and building off of them as needed. GForge, Repository In a Box, Savane, XOOPS, or a similar product will provide much of the required functionality.

8. Reuse Portalhttp://softwarereuse.nasa.gov/ Log in for WG members maintaining the site Navigation bar Recent news items Upcoming events related to Earth science and/or software reuse Goal is to become a central location for information about software reuse.

9. Reuse Portal • Created a portal web site – http://softwarereuse.nasa.gov/ • Contains information on: • Reusable assets • Resources (includes events, publications by the Reuse WG, publications by others, TRLs) • Open source • Funding opportunities • Portal provides education and guidance on reuse and is continually being updated with new information • Basic stats 11/2005 – 08/2006: • Over 3500 unique visitors • Over 19000 page views • In top 10 of Google and #1 on MSN for “software reuse” search

10. Policy Recommendations • Provided feedback to HQ on: • Draft Policy for System Software Acquisition for NASA Data System Solicitation • NPD 2210.1B (External Release of NASA Software) • Developed draft language for future grant and procurement RFPs that addresses software reuse and open source software. • Recommended changes that emphasize and encourage reuse and the use of open source licensing.

11. Conclusions • Reuse WG is working to increase reuse in the ways most recommended by survey respondents: • Creation of an Earth science repository of software assets has been proposed (work in progress). • Providing education/guidance on reuse via the portal web site. • Encouraging greater use of open source licensing via recommended policy changes. • Successful increase of software reuse will: • Allow software developers to save time and money while still producing a high-quality product. • Allow for the production and distribution of new reusable assets, increasing the availability of assets, encouraging further reuse. • Save NASA time and money.

12. Reuse WG Contacts • Software Reuse Portal Web Site • http://softwarereuse.nasa.gov/ • Co-chairs • Vic Delnore <v.e.delnore@nasa.gov> • Robert Wolfe <robert.e.wolfe@nasa.gov> • Mailing List and Web Site • Ryan Gerard <ryan.gerard@gsfc.nasa.gov> • Web Site and Other Information • Jim Marshall <james.marshall@gsfc.nasa.gov>