The Modularity Matrix as a Source of Software Conceptual Integrity

Abstract

Conceptual Integrity has been declared the most important consideration for software system design. However, the very concept of Conceptual Integrity remained quite vague, lacking a precise formal definition. This paper offers a path to a novel definition of Conceptual Integrity in terms of the Modularity Matrix, the basic structure of Linear Software Models. We provide arguments for the plausibility of the Modularity Matrix as the suggested source of software system Conceptual Integrity, viz. the orthogonality and propriety of the Matrix modules. Furthermore, the paper also reveals some new characteristic properties of Software Conceptual Integrity.