Interface robustness for COTS-based systems

Interoperability, costs and time-to-market considerations are driving software production toward the use of as much commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) code as possible. Product cycle times of 12-18 months are now moving towards 3-4 months. This does achieve cost savings, but it also creates new problems. COTS code may not work as efficiently or effectively in a new environment. In addition, the COTS code may have hidden, perhaps malicious functionality that is difficult to discern before it causes problems. This paper looks further into these two concerns about using COTS and into what, if anything, can be done to reduce them