Feature-oriented domain analysis
Encyclopedia
Feature oriented domain analysis (FODA) is a domain analysis
method which introduced feature model
ling to domain engineering
. FODA was developed in 1990 following several U.S. Government research projects. Its concepts have been regarded as critically advancing software engineering
and software reuse.
in 1990. In the initial technical report, a study performed determined that feature oriented domain analysis was not only beneficial, but was described as a "necessary first step" for software reuse. The report introduced the concept of feature model
s to domain engineering
in an effort to represent the standard features within the family of systems in the domain as well as the relationships between those features. Since then, feature models have been characterized as "the greatest contribution of domain engineering to software engineering".
Much of the work leading up to the development of FODA was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense through research programs related to software reuse during the late 1980s. FODA was developed as a comprehensive analysis and refinement of technology developed from 1983–1990. While some aspects of FODA have changed, and it has become integrated with model-based software engineering, FODA is still known as the method that initially introduced feature models to domain engineering.
, customers can select from configurable requirements to specify a final system. Through this process, feature-oriented domain analysis ensures that a business can meet customers' demands efficiently through reuse of technology.
Domain analysis
In software engineering, domain analysis, or product line analysis, is the process of analyzing related software systems in a domain to find their common and variable parts. It is a model of wider business context for the system. The term was coined in the early 1980s by James Neighbors. Domain...
method which introduced feature model
Feature model
Feature model is a compact representation of all the products of the Software Product Line in terms of "features". Feature models are visually represented by means of feature diagrams. Feature models are widely used during the whole product line development process and are commonly used as input...
ling to domain engineering
Domain engineering
Domain engineering, also called product line engineering, is the entire process of reusing domain knowledge in the production of new software systems. It is a key concept in systematic software reuse. A key idea in systematic software reuse is the application domain, a software area that contains...
. FODA was developed in 1990 following several U.S. Government research projects. Its concepts have been regarded as critically advancing software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
and software reuse.
History
Feature-oriented domain analysis was first developed by the Software Engineering InstituteSoftware Engineering Institute
The Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute is a federally funded research and development center headquartered on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. SEI also has offices in Arlington, Virginia, and Frankfurt, Germany. The SEI operates...
in 1990. In the initial technical report, a study performed determined that feature oriented domain analysis was not only beneficial, but was described as a "necessary first step" for software reuse. The report introduced the concept of feature model
Feature model
Feature model is a compact representation of all the products of the Software Product Line in terms of "features". Feature models are visually represented by means of feature diagrams. Feature models are widely used during the whole product line development process and are commonly used as input...
s to domain engineering
Domain engineering
Domain engineering, also called product line engineering, is the entire process of reusing domain knowledge in the production of new software systems. It is a key concept in systematic software reuse. A key idea in systematic software reuse is the application domain, a software area that contains...
in an effort to represent the standard features within the family of systems in the domain as well as the relationships between those features. Since then, feature models have been characterized as "the greatest contribution of domain engineering to software engineering".
Much of the work leading up to the development of FODA was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense through research programs related to software reuse during the late 1980s. FODA was developed as a comprehensive analysis and refinement of technology developed from 1983–1990. While some aspects of FODA have changed, and it has become integrated with model-based software engineering, FODA is still known as the method that initially introduced feature models to domain engineering.
Purpose
The intent of feature-oriented domain analysis is to support functional and architectural reuse. The objective is to create a domain model which represents a family of systems which can then be refined into the particular desired system within the domain To do this, the scope of the domain must be analyzed (known as FODA context analysis) to identify not only the systems in the domain but also the external systems which interact with the domain. FODA feature analysis then analyzes the end-user's view of the configurable requirements and candidate systems within the domain. From the developed feature modelFeature model
Feature model is a compact representation of all the products of the Software Product Line in terms of "features". Feature models are visually represented by means of feature diagrams. Feature models are widely used during the whole product line development process and are commonly used as input...
, customers can select from configurable requirements to specify a final system. Through this process, feature-oriented domain analysis ensures that a business can meet customers' demands efficiently through reuse of technology.