Rapid system prototyping in an open system environment

Why build application prototypes that cannot be used in the production environments for which they were designed? Prototypes, even if they are to be scrapped, should be built in standardized environments to reduce the cost of reengineering for different environments and to provide better, simpler support. Rapid System Prototyping (RSP) places the emphasis of requirements definition and analysis on uncovering and defining engineering and software requirements in an effort to reduce the risk of system development. This report describes a standards-based framework for supporting RSP. It illustrates the pros and cons of proprietary and nonproprietary solutions to the problems associated with prototyping environments, and introduces a reference model for establishing the framework. This framework is called the Open System Environment (OSE). The specifications and standards recommended in the RSP Open System Environment (RSP/OSE) support RSP by defining a standardized environment and framework in which rapid system prototypes can be used to concentrate the focus on uncovering and defining application requirements, and to provide for the evolution of products in broad-based markets.<>