Modeling scenario variability as crosscutting mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Variability management is a common challenge for Software Product Line (SPL) adoption, since developers need suitable mechanisms for specifying and implementing variability that occurs at different SPL artifacts (requirements, design, implementation, and test). In this paper, we present a novel approach for use case scenario variability management, enabling a better separation of concerns between languages used to manage variabilities and languages used to specify use case scenarios. The result is that both representations can be understood and evolved in a separate way. We achieve such a goal by modeling variability management as a crosscutting phenomenon, for the reason that artifacts such as feature models, product configurations, and configuration knowledge crosscut each other with respect to each specific SPL member. After applying our approach to different case studies, we achieved a better feature modularity and scenario cohesion.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications
          Subjects: Languages

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications
          Subjects: Methodologies (e.g., object-oriented, structured)
        D.2.13 Reusable Software

General Terms:
Design, Documentation

Keywords:
requirements models, software product line, variability management