def parse(input, identifier: str = None, use_cache=False, clear_cache=True, pattern="*.qface", profile=EProfile.FULL):
        """Input can be either a file or directory or a list of files or directory.
        A directory will be parsed recursively. The function returns the resulting system.
        Stores the result of the run in the domain cache named after the identifier.

        :param path: directory to parse
        :param identifier: identifies the parse run. Used to name the cache
        :param clear_cache: clears the domain cache (defaults to true)
        """
        inputs = input if isinstance(input, (list, tuple)) else [input]
        logger.debug('parse input={0}'.format(inputs))
        identifier = 'system' if not identifier else identifier
        system = System()
        cache = None
        if use_cache:
            cache = shelve.open('qface.cache')
            if identifier in cache and clear_cache:
                del cache[identifier]
            if identifier in cache:
                # use the cached domain model
                system = cache[identifier]
        # if domain model not cached generate it
        for input in inputs:
            path = Path.getcwd() / str(input)
            if path.isfile():
                FileSystem.parse_document(path, system)
            else:
                for document in path.walkfiles(pattern):
                    FileSystem.parse_document(document, system)

        if use_cache:
            cache[identifier] = system
        return system
Input can be either a file or directory or a list of files or directory.
        A directory will be parsed recursively. The function returns the resulting system.
        Stores the result of the run in the domain cache named after the identifier.

        :param path: directory to parse
        :param identifier: identifies the parse run. Used to name the cache
        :param clear_cache: clears the domain cache (defaults to true)