Framework specialization aspects

ABSTRACT

Object-oriented frameworks play an important role in different kinds of software, such as product-lines, middleware, GUI components, IDEs, etc. Over the past recent years, fundamentals of framework design stabilized around the adoption of design patterns. However, major difficulties concerning framework learning and usage are still evident, and constitute a burden for those who have to deal with it. This paper proposes an approach that aims to facilitate framework usage, based on the concept of specialization aspect. We show how framework hot-spots can be modularized in terms of specialization aspects, and how these can give support for specializing a framework in a step-wise way. The approach is conservative, in the sense that specialization aspects can be developed for an existing framework "as is". In order to support these claims, a case study has been carried out by applying the technique on the JHotDraw graphical framework.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.3 Language Constructs and Features

General Terms:
Design, Languages

Keywords:
aspect-oriented programming, framework specialization, hot-spots, patterns, step-wise refinement