Explicit exception handling variability in component-based product line architectures

ABSTRACT

Separation of concerns is one of the overarching goals of exception handling in order to keep separate normal and exceptional behaviour of a software system. In the context of a software product line (SPL), this separation of concerns is also important for designing software variabilities related to different exception handling strategies, such as the choice of different handlers depending on the set of selected features. This paper presents a method for refactoring object-oriented product line architecture in order to separate explicitly their normal and exceptional behaviour into different software components. The new component-based software architecture includes variation points related to different choices of exception handlers that can be selected during product instantiations, thus facilitating the evolution of the exceptional behaviour. The feasibility of the proposed approach is assessed through a SPL of mobile applications.

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INDEX TERMS

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

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.11 Software Architectures

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
component-based software development, exception handling, exceptional behaviour, software architecture