Domain modeling in engineering computer-based systems

Domain modeling is believed to be a key factor in developing an economical and scalable means for constructing families of related software systems. In this paper, we review the current state of domain modeling, and present some of our work on the ADAGE (Avionics Domain Application Generation Environment) project, an integrated environment that relies heavily on domain models for generating real-time avionics applications. Specifically, we explain how we detect errors in the design of avionics systems that are expressed in terms of compositions of components. We also offer insights on how domain modeling can benefit the engineering of computer-based systems in other domains.