The integrated method for a systematic approach in developing precision farming software product line architecture

Abstract

Software complexity has always been an issue in software development, especially for larger system with innovative functionalities. One solution to reduce the problem of software complexity is by applying software reuse method. Nowadays, Software Product Line is an emerging paradigm for handling software development for software reuse. Software Product Line usually associated with using feature-oriented development methods. Although there are many methods that existed for developing Software Product Line, there are no concrete descriptions on systematic processes that the methods used. Therefore, in this research, an integration of three feature-oriented Software Product Line methods is proposed for developing software architecture. The methods are Feature-Oriented Domain Analysis (FODA), Feature-Architecture Mapping (FArM), and Feature Dependency Analysis (FDA). The case study selected for this research is Precision Farming application based on Wireless Sensor Network. The proposed integrated method provides systematic processes with detailed guidelines for designing software architecture. The software architecture for the case study is developed using the proposed integrated method. The proposed integrated method is evaluated with the initial FArM and has higher benefits because the integrated method includes domain analysis and enhanced mechanism for handling feature dependencies. When compared to Feature-Oriented Reuse Method (FORM), there are fewer differences, but the integrated method provides stronger mapping from features to architectures because it uses FArM method.