The Software Factory methodology is based on recognition of these similarities and a drive to extend the concept of "reusability" to the point where we achieve entirely automated product lines. Based on an analysis and understanding of the common features and techniques of a set of applications, a Software Factory defines a tailored, end-to-end methodology for building these applications. At the heart of the Software factory methodology is the concept of Domain Specific Languages (DSLs), which in essence are development environments specifically tailored to the set of applications in hand. It removes a certain degree of flexibility but greatly enhances productivity by removing a lot of the coding complexity (for an analogy, consider the use of the now ubiquitous drag-and-drop controls in Winforms or Visual Basic).

However, with the emergence of the Microsoft Software Factories SDK, upon which this book is based, they are moving firmly into the mainstream. For the first time, with this book, .NET developers and architects can see how to put this methodology to practical use in real projects. Throughout the book, every chapter is accompanied with hands-on examples performed on a real-world case study, using Microsoft's Software Factory tools.