Mass Produced Software Components
Summary
McIlroy argues for a software components industry built on parameterized, catalogued families of routines that can be tailored at bind-time and run-time. He uses a sine routine example to illustrate dimensional variability (precision, robustness, interfaces) and discusses markets, pilot plants, and education, along with practical challenges of standardization and distribution. The piece remains an early, influential vision for component-based software engineering and has clear relevance to modern no-code/low-code and business automation.