Abstract: A system and method for developing a software application for manipulating data associated with an asset are provided. The system includes at least one processing unit. The system further includes at least one memory store operatively connected to the processing unit. The system further includes an extensible N-tier software resident in and executable within the at least one processing unit, wherein N corresponds to a positive integer value. The system further includes an inventory of software components resident in the memory store wherein a plurality of tiers are generated from the inventory of a software components using the N-tier software, each tier being associated with at least one other tier, and each tier comprising a plurality of software components and performing a predetermined function relating to an asset.

Abstract: A system and method for designing a software architecture for utilizing software components in building extensible N-tier software applications is described, the method comprising specifying a set of software component rules for creating software components; specifying a set of tier rules for creating tiers; and specifying a set of assembly rules further comprising association rules by which each tier may be associated with at least one software component and linkage rules by which each tier may be linked to at least one other tier.