Common Operating Environment

Definition
Common Operating Environment (COE) is

((Quote|[t]he collection of standards, specifications, and guidelines, architecture definitions, software infrastructures, reusable components, application programming interfaces (APIs), runtime environment definitions, reference implementations, and methodology that establishes an environment on which a system can be built. The COE is the vehicle that assures interoperability through a reference implementation that provides identical implementation of common functions. It is important to realize that the COE is both a standard and an actual product. }}