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ABSTRACT

The evolution of a software framework may invalidate existing plugins - modules that used one of its previous versions. To preserve binary compatibility (i.e., plugins will link and run with a new framework release without recompilation), we automatically create an adaptation layer that translates between plugins and the framework. The creation of these adapters is guided by information about syntactic framework changes (refactorings). For each supported refactoring we formally define a comeback - a refactoring used to construct adapters. For an ordered set of refactorings that occured between two framework versions, the backward execution of the corresponding comebacks yields the adaptation layer.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.13 Reusable Software
            Subjects: Reusable libraries

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.7 Distribution, Maintenance, and Enhancement
          Subjects: Restructuring, reverse engineering, and reengineering

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Languages

Keywords:
component-based systems, frameworks, refactoring, software adaptation, software evolution