Domain analysis and framework-based software development

Domain Analysis is the process that identifies the relevant objects of an application domain. The goal of Domain Analysis is Software Reuse. The higher is the level of the life-cycle object to reuse, the larger are the benefits coming from its reuse, the harder is the definition of a workable process. Frameworks are excellent candidates for Domain Analysis: they are at a higher level than code but average programmers can understand them.This paper presents the main features of Sherlock, a domain analysis process for the extraction of reusable frameworks, and discusses the impact that Sherlock has on the software process, in particular concerning reuse practices. Sherlock is based on both FODA and Proteus domain analysis techniques. The input of Sherlock is an informal description of the domain based on other domain applications, literature, user requirements, and interviews with domain experts. The output of Sherlock is a set of architectural models (the domain frameworks and patterns), taxonomies of permanencies and variabilities, objects models focusing on the common domain objects. The introduction of Sherlock in the software process requires the definition of new roles and has a valuable impact on reuse practices. We present in this paper a case study: the application of Sherlock at Thera S.p.A., a software company located in Brescia, Italy.