UML22 — 03-04-01 Chap 2 p. 112/Components: Different ways to wire components

Issue: Re Chapter 2, Components, Figure 2-15, p. 112: The text of the fifth
paragraph says: “A component has a number of provided and required
Interfaces, that form the basis for wiring components together, either using
Dependencies, or by using Connectors.” Is this really an either or choice?
What is the real semantic distinction? And what is the semantic distinction
between wiring via connectors without ports vs. wiring via connectors with
ports?

Recommendation: Clearly specify the semantic distinctions among the three
ways of wiring components together:

1) Via Dependencies
2) Via Connectors without Ports
3) Via Connectors with Ports.

If there are no semantic distinctions--that is, if the distinctions are
purely mechanical--then the specification should probably changed such that
there is one way to wire components together.

Dependencies are used for wiring components at the type level, and indicate some policies about how components might be wired. Connectors are used for wiring component internals and show how parts and ports are actually wired.
We will not resolve the issue about distinguishing between the presence and absence of ports: this is fundamental to composite structures and too big a change for the RTF.