Domain analysis (DA), systems analysis for multiple related systems, is necessary for the systematic, formal, and effective practice of software reuse. Proposed approaches and methods for DA assume that domain knowledge exists and is readily usable. Experience indicates, however, that acquiring and structuring knowledge is the bottleneck of DA. Phase I of this study assessed the potential for automating this bottleneck activity. Existing techniques and tools, in particular those from information retrieval and expert systems development, were found to potentially provide support for activities in the DA process. Phase I identified a high level architecture for a domain analysis support system (DARE) which integrates these techniques and tools. Phase I adapted the STARS DA methodology into a step by step repeatable procedure supported by the DARE architecture. The goal of Phase II is to further explore DARE's architecture and subsystems. Some of the subsystems will be implemented and tested. Others, which are less well understood, will be researched, and requirements and designs will be written for them. This proposal details the plan to develop a preliminary prototype for DARE and describes the technology that will be used and developed in the process. Technology transfer, utilization, and commercialization issues are discussed. Anticipated
Benefits: Clear understanding of the domain analysis process and a framework for standardizing and automating some of its activities. Commercial applications include tailoring of the DARE method and environment to support specific domains, development of interfaces between DARE and other ARPA reuse support tools, and development of domain specific reusable components and architectures DARE can use for application development.