The size, complexity, and integration level of software systems is increasing c- stantly. Companies in all domains identify that software de?nes the competitive edge of their products. These developments require us to constantly search for new approaches to increase the productivity and quality of our software - velopment and to decrease the cost of software maintenance. Generative and component-based technologies hold considerablepromise with respect to achi- ing these goals. GCSE 2001 constituted another important step forward and provided a platform for academic and industrial researchers to exchange ideas. These proceedings represent the third conference on generative and com- nent-based software engineering. The conference originated as a special track on generative programming from the Smalltalk and Java in Industry and - ucation Conference (STJA), organized by the working group “Generative and Component-Based Software Engineering” of the “Gesellschaft fur ¨ Informatik” FG 2.1.9 “Object-Oriented Software Engineering.” However, the conference has evolved substantially since then, with its own, independent stature, invited speakers, and, most importantly, a stable and growing community. This year’s conference attracted 43 submissions from all over the world, - dicating the broad, international interest in the research ?eld. Based on careful review by the program committee, 14 papers were selected for presentation. I would like to thank the members of the program committee, all renowned - perts, for their dedication in preparing thorough reviews of the submissions.