Couplinglikeness

Couplinglikeness is a term used in some fields of software engineering and systems design to describe the degree to which different components or modules are interdependent. High couplinglikeness means that modules are tightly bound, so a change in one module is likely to require changes in others. Conversely, low couplinglikeness indicates that modules are independent and can be modified or replaced with minimal impact on other parts of the system. The concept is often discussed in relation to software design principles such as modularity and separation of concerns, where the goal is generally to achieve low couplinglikeness to improve maintainability, testability, and flexibility.

The idea behind minimizing couplinglikeness is to create systems that are easier to understand, modify, and extend over time. When modules are loosely coupled, they can be developed, tested, and deployed more independently. This can lead to faster development cycles and reduce the risk of introducing errors into other parts of the system. For instance, in object-oriented programming, excessive dependencies between classes can be a sign of high coupling. Techniques like dependency injection, interface programming, and message queues are often employed to reduce couplinglikeness between different software components. While some level of coupling is often necessary for components to interact and function together, striving for appropriate levels of loose coupling is a common objective in robust system design.