Software ecosystems Flashcards
What is software ecosystem?
the interaction of a set of actors on top of a common technological platform that
results in a number of software solutions or services
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In a software ecosystem, different software products and services often depend on each other, either through integration or by building on top of existing technologies. These dependencies create a network of interconnected software elements that enable developers to create more complex and comprehensive solutions.
What does symbiotic relation between actors and ecosystem mean?
The software ecosystem thrives on the collaboration and mutually beneficial relationships between the actors involved. The success of one actor often depends on the contributions, support, or services provided by other actors in the ecosystem.
What does incentives/motivation for each actor in software ecosystem entitle?
Each actor within the software ecosystem has specific incentives or motivations that drive their participation and engagement. These incentives can vary depending on the actor’s role and goals.
What is the characteristics of a software ecosystem?
Common infrastructure (technology/platform)
Set of actors/community
Business models/incentives
What are the elements of a successful
-Software interaction
-Actor involvement & interaction
-Actor incentive (value creation)
-Survival (prosperity) depends on the survival of the ecosystem as a whole
What is the definition of the software ecosystem architecture?
The definition stresses that the architecture of a software ecosystem consists of multiple structures, each consisting of actor
and software elements
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Software forms the core of a software ecosystem, therefore the software structure of the software ecosystem is important. Moreover, a main purpose of software ecosystem actors is to create value (in a for-profit or non-profit manner) and thus the business structure of a software ecosystem becomes relevant. Finally, it is important to govern the interaction and organization of actors and software (e.g., for an actor to provide a software-based service in the ecosystem) and thus the organizational structure of a software ecosystem becomes important
What is the organizational structure in software ecosystems (analysis)?
Actor structure/interaction:
The interaction of actors is also related to the role each actor serves in the ecosystem. Specific roles might be more prone or even necessary to have interaction in different kinds of ecosystems
- Mutualism, both benefit
- Commensalism, one benefits, other unaffected
- Parasitism, one benefits, other harmed
- Amensalism, one harmed, other unaffected
- Competition, both harmed
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(Organizational) Decision making:
Decision making in the software ecosystem refers to the process of making choices and determining actions or policies that impact the ecosystem’s operations and development. It involves considering various factors, such as technical feasibility, market demands, resource allocation, and stakeholder interests.
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Openness:
Openness in the software ecosystem refers to the extent to which the ecosystem encourages transparency, collaboration, and participation from external actors.
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Actor roles:
Actor roles define the specific responsibilities, functions, and tasks performed by different participants within the software ecosystem. Roles can vary depending on the context but commonly include developers, users, contributors, maintainers, platform providers, and governance bodies.
- Orchestrators, central role in the ecosystem
- Niche creators, influence
- External actors, add value periodically
What is the business structure in software ecosystems (analysis)?
Value proposition: A value proposition is the unique combination of products, services, features, and benefits that a company offers to its customers. It defines how a company’s offerings fulfill the needs of its target market and differentiate it from competitors.
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Key selling points: These are the main features, advantages, or benefits of a product or service that are highlighted to persuade potential customers to choose it over alternatives. Key selling points often align with the value proposition and address specific customer pain points.
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Vendor lock-in vs Multi-homing: Vendor lock-in refers to a situation where a customer becomes dependent on a particular vendor’s products, technologies, or services to an extent that switching to an alternative becomes difficult or costly. Multi-homing, on the other hand, involves a customer using multiple vendors or platforms simultaneously to avoid dependency on a single vendor.
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Competitive advantage: Competitive advantage refers to the unique qualities or capabilities that enable a company to outperform its competitors and achieve superior performance in the market.
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Revenues: Revenues represent the total amount of income generated by a company through its business activities over a specific period. In the software ecosystem, revenues can come from various sources, such as software licenses, subscriptions, support services, consulting, advertising, or partnerships.
What is the software structure in software ecosystems? (analysis)
Software architecture: is closely related to software structure. It refers to the high-level design and organization of a software system, including its major components, their interactions, and the overall principles and guidelines that guide the system’s construction.
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Software reuse: is a practice of utilizing existing software components or modules in the development of new software systems. It involves identifying and extracting reusable components from existing software assets, such as libraries, frameworks, or modules, and incorporating them into new applications
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Modularity refers to the design principle of breaking down a software system into separate, self-contained modules or components. Each module performs a specific function or encapsulates a specific set of features, and they can be developed and maintained independently.
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Evolution: in the context of the software ecosystem refers to the ability of a software system to adapt and evolve over time. As software requirements change, new features are added, and improvements are made, the software needs to be able to accommodate these changes effectively.
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Validation and verification (V&V) are two essential processes in software development. Validation ensures that the software meets the intended requirements and solves the intended problem correctly. It involves evaluating the software during or at the end of the development process to determine its fitness for purpose. Verification, on the other hand, focuses on confirming that the software has been designed and implemented correctly according to its specifications.
What is the software ecosystem health?
“the ability of the ecosystem to endure and remain variable and productive over time”
What should you look into when doing an analysis of software ecosystems
Organizational structure
Business structure
Software structure
Software ecosystem health measurement is divided in to sub categories, what are they and what are their elements?
Actors–>
- Individual actor health
- Actor Network Health
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Software–>
- Software component health
- Platform health
- Software network health
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Orchestration
Which 3 aspects do you use to measure software ecosystem health
Robustness: refers to the ecosystem’s ability to sustain perturbations, such as changes in requirements, technology advancements, or market conditions.
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Niche creation refers to the ecosystem’s ability to constantly produce more than “commodities” and create unique value.
