Platform-based design

Platform-based design is a design approach emphasizing systematic reuse, for developing complex products based upon platforms and compatible hardware and software virtual component, intended to reduce development risks, costs and time to market.

A platform is a library of components that can be assembled to generate a design at that level of abstraction. The platform-based design starts at the highest level of abstraction and carries out the design as a sequence of refinement steps at various levels of abstractions.