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Subject:Re: word definitions please From:Janet_Swisher -at- TRILOGY -dot- COM Date:Tue, 24 Aug 1999 19:12:28 -0500
>> I. Please send to me your comments regarding the definitions of
>> these words:
>>
>> 1. expandability
>>
>> 2. extensibility
>>
>> 3. extendability or extendibility.
>>
>> Specifically, in a written description of the features of a software
>> application,
>> how would you use these three words?
>
>Part of the problem is that extensible, extendable, and extendible are
all
>synonyms. They all mean capable of being extended. A software program is
>extensible if a second party (someone other than the software designer)
can
>write custom code that can be included in some way to extend the
>capabilities of the software.
The ways that I have seen extendable and extensible used imply the
following, though I have not found this fine point in any dictionary.
Software is extendable if you can broaden the reach of its existing
functionality, such as by adding words to a spelling checker. Software is
extensible if you can add new functionality, such as by adding a plug-in
to a browser.
