Optimization of variability in software product lines

Autoren

• Felix Lösch

Parameter

• Informatik & Programmierung

Mehr zum Buch

The product line approach in software development enhances time-to-market, productivity, and quality for companies targeting a broad customer base. However, these benefits come with increased complexity due to the variability required in product lines. As product lines evolve, new variable features and configuration parameters are frequently added while outdated variability remains, leading to a combinatorial explosion of variants. For instance, a product line with just 16 features can theoretically produce 65,536 variants. To address this complexity, it is essential to implement methods that minimize the number of variable features necessary for deriving current and future products. This dissertation introduces a semi-automatic method for variability optimization aimed at documenting, analyzing, and simplifying the variability of software product lines without compromising their configurability. Central to this method is the application of Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) to create a visual representation of the variability, which serves as a foundation for analysis. Additionally, a set of restructuring strategies is proposed to reduce the number of variable features needed. The method's effectiveness is illustrated through two case studies focused on optimizing the variability of large industrial software product lines.

• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2008