Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Getting Started:
OpenEdge Reference Architecture

A component-based architecture

The primary characteristic of the OpenEdge RA is that it models application functionality in terms of individual components. A component-based architecture fosters reuse of business logic, data access, presentation, and integration components from application to application.

Component-based design offers numerous advantages:

It speeds development cycles and eases future maintenance by eliminating duplicative and overlapping coding.
It enables plug-and-play applications in which individual pieces can be swapped out and replaced without affecting the rest of the application.
It serves to contain modifications and customizations, limiting their ripple effect across the application.