extensibele

Extensibele is a term used in Dutch to describe a system, component, or framework that can be extended with new functionality without changing its core architecture. Conceptually it aligns with the English term extensible and with broader notions of extensibility in software engineering. The emphasis is on the availability of stable extension points such as APIs, plug-in interfaces, or adapters that allow third-party development and future enhancements to be added safely.

Key characteristics of an extensibele design include modular architecture, well-defined interfaces, versioned extension points, backward compatibility, and comprehensive documentation. An extensibele system separates core logic from optional features, enabling incremental enhancement, customization, and integration with external tools or services. Good design also promotes loose coupling between core components and extensions, and clear governance for how new extensions are proposed and approved.

Common applications include content management systems and development platforms that rely on plugins or adapters. Examples often cited are WordPress and Eclipse, which demonstrate how extensibility supports a large ecosystem of third-party extensions and integrations. In hardware contexts, extensibility can refer to firmware or software that supports add-ons, peripherals, or modular configurations.

Challenges associated with extensibele systems include maintaining API stability, managing dependencies among extensions, addressing security risks from third-party code, handling performance overhead, and ensuring governance and quality control within the extension ecosystem.

See also: Extensibility, Plugin architecture, API, Modularity.