Title: Diary of a domain analyst: a domain analysis case-study from avionics
Abstract: Domain analysis has been suggested by some in the reuse research community as an important process for achieving successful reuse. In this paper, we describe a domain analysis case-study in the domain of aero-engine systems. The principle objective of the case-study was to evaluate the use of a domain analysis technique on a complex domain in an industrial setting. As a result of the case-study we have learnt a number of lessons about successful domain analysis practice and experienced at first hand some of the widely accepted difficulties. For example, we now know that it is important to uncover the ‘real’ issues in the domain, recognise the value of different information sources, organise and structure domain knowledge, and to recognise emerging architectures. The case-study has also helped us to identify the significance of those areas we feel are less well understood in domain analysis, such as domain structuring, modelling complex forms of commonality and optionality, rationale capture and multiple-perspectives. Adopting an analysis method provided some lessons and an introduction to more complex issues. However, we feel that our experience points to a number of areas which are not adequately supported by the domain analysis method and which therefore provide a suitable target for future research.