A reference architecture is a set of interconnected models used in software development and integrating computer systems into enterprise networks. It includes common terms, vocabulary, and interactions between components. It focuses on steps leading to a final product and includes operating systems, database management programs, and programming languages. It also considers access to computer systems, security, and user interface commands. It provides a standard model for developing and improving computer systems.
A reference architecture is a set of interconnected models often used in software development and the integration of computer systems into enterprise networks. Project management teams can use these models to determine how various solutions, such as programming languages or network configurations, fit into a business model. Several solutions are often devised and it is usually up to the team to decide which ones are best to use. In addition to a business reference model, the plan usually includes a framework for how people will interface with the network and what software will be implemented.
Common terms and vocabulary items related to common components of computer systems and software are typically part of a reference architecture. Interactions between computer programs and even electronic components can also be listed. Models of how all the parts fit together are typically designed to understand the functions of communication equipment or a specific computer program for a task, for example.
The steps leading to a final product can be the focus of a reference architecture, which can also consist of a list of properties of a particular system. The components and parts that make up a computer system are sometimes included in the model. The functions of software or the layout of a computer network may be abstract, but during the development phase of a project, the reference architecture typically becomes more concise as plans for a finished product come together.
Reference software architecture often consists of operating systems and database management programs that control the storage and flow of information. A particular project may require certain software programs, and a company often has to consider the expense of acquiring these and associated licenses. The reference architecture often incorporates computer servers and the software used to manage them. Communications, data access, directory management, and development software are also typically included in the model.
The programming languages and development environment used are usually integral components of a reference architecture. Access to computer systems and the type of security in place are also usually factored into a reference model, as is the method in which commands from a user interface are routed through a computer to a network. These commands are often important in relation to how different parts of a business interact. A reference architecture, therefore, provides a standard model of a computer system that is under development or that an enterprise can use to develop, build, and improve its network.
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