Cycoda: Programming Recursive

Recursive methods

Very few software systems are conceived as monolithic artefacts. They are broken down into subsystems, modules etc. The early parts of the development process may define a top level structure, and the process reapplying to parts of the structure in turn to define ever greater details.

For example the initial design of a customer support system may identify the main features as manage accounts and contacts using objects like accounts, contacts and activities. Once designed and built, the recursive method can be reapplied to identify more features and objects.

Object Orientated Analysis and Design, with its clean boundaries and objects, naturally supports this approach. Recursive development methods can be applied equally well to waterfall or iterative processes. It is not an alternative to them.