3. (Software Quality Characteristics in a Lattice Framework)

We discuss some advantages associated with lattice ADTs. Discuss how they deliver the following benefits (McConnell, 2004):

a) They hide implementation details.We can change the representation of the ADT from one data type to another data type without affecting clients. It is also possible to store the data in external storage (for example, Excel or a relational database) or memory without affecting clients.

b) Changes do not affect the whole program. This benefit is even more pronounced in the current framework because it is based on the Layers pattern. Discuss why this statement is true.

c) It is easier to improve performance. Discuss how to improve the algorithms in Layer 2 and the ADTs in Layer 1. Are there opportunities to parallelise some of the critical algorithms, for example the code in Section 11.7?

d) The software is more obviously correct. For example, compare the general quality of the original algorithms in Section 11.4 to price an American down-and-out call option with similar code based on the current framework.
Can these general design guidelines be applied to other application areas, for example Monte Carlo simulation and PDE models?