This thesis investigates reuse in two main paradigms of software development: component-based and generative software design. The main objective is to propose Domain Theory-based methods for developing a) libraries of reusable components and b) application generators. One research question is whether these two approaches can be combined to the benefit of application generation. This research goes through two case studies consisting of domain analysis, development of proof-of-concept tools, and validation studies. First, a telemedicine case-study shows that applying the Domain Theory as an analysis method manages to identify abstract domain models in the given domain and specifies a reuse library at the conceptual level. Also mapping these models to design patterns and defining variability points for further extensions in the application framework is feasible. Second, the Resource Allocation case study extends the Domain Theory with a generative reuse method. An application generator is developed as proof-of-concept which receives in its input abstract resource allocation requirements and generates allocation applications. Validation tests show that both expert and less expert users interact successfully with the application generator to generate application frameworks. Also end-users use the allocation applications efficiently to execute their tasks. Future redesign of the tool needs to address usability, terminology and domain understanding issues pinpointed during the tests.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:500495 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Papamargaritis, George |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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