Module-Based Development

Design approach based on design of interchangeable modules rather than based on design of complete machines.

Complete Machines consist of relationships between modules, or components. The industry standard technique used to design such systems is referred to as Contract First Design. The team defines relationships between modules before the designing components.

The question for OSE is whether or not a few "universal" modules can meet the needs of diverse component relationships, interchangeable between machines. And there is no way to know without first defining those specifications for all 50 GVCS.

"Before Team WIKISPEED even started to design individual components [of the open source car], they designed the interfaces between those modules."

http://www.scrum-breakfast.com/2013/06/xm-principle-4-contract-first-design.html