2,226 research outputs found
Analysis of Feature Models Using Alloy: A Survey
Feature Models (FMs) are a mechanism to model variability among a family of
closely related software products, i.e. a software product line (SPL). Analysis
of FMs using formal methods can reveal defects in the specification such as
inconsistencies that cause the product line to have no valid products. A
popular framework used in research for FM analysis is Alloy, a light-weight
formal modeling notation equipped with an efficient model finder. Several works
in the literature have proposed different strategies to encode and analyze FMs
using Alloy. However, there is little discussion on the relative merits of each
proposal, making it difficult to select the most suitable encoding for a
specific analysis need. In this paper, we describe and compare those strategies
according to various criteria such as the expressivity of the FM notation or
the efficiency of the analysis. This survey is the first comparative study of
research targeted towards using Alloy for FM analysis. This review aims to
identify all the best practices on the use of Alloy, as a part of a framework
for the automated extraction and analysis of rich FMs from natural language
requirement specifications.Comment: In Proceedings FMSPLE 2016, arXiv:1603.0857
"Boring formal methods" or "Sherlock Holmes deduction methods"?
This paper provides an overview of common challenges in teaching of logic and
formal methods to Computer Science and IT students. We discuss our experiences
from the course IN3050: Applied Logic in Engineering, introduced as a "logic
for everybody" elective course at at TU Munich, Germany, to engage pupils
studying Computer Science, IT and engineering subjects on Bachelor and Master
levels. Our goal was to overcome the bias that logic and formal methods are not
only very complicated but also very boring to study and to apply. In this
paper, we present the core structure of the course, provide examples of
exercises and evaluate the course based on the students' surveys.Comment: Preprint. Accepted to the Software Technologies: Applications and
Foundations (STAF 2016). Final version published by Springer International
Publishing AG. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:1602.0517
Non-null Infinitesimal Micro-steps: a Metric Temporal Logic Approach
Many systems include components interacting with each other that evolve with
possibly very different speeds. To deal with this situation many formal models
adopt the abstraction of "zero-time transitions", which do not consume time.
These however have several drawbacks in terms of naturalness and logic
consistency, as a system is modeled to be in different states at the same time.
We propose a novel approach that exploits concepts from non-standard analysis
to introduce a notion of micro- and macro-steps in an extension of the TRIO
metric temporal logic, called X-TRIO. We use X-TRIO to provide a formal
semantics and an automated verification technique to Stateflow-like notations
used in the design of flexible manufacturing systems.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the conference "FORMATS: Formal
Modelling and Analysis of Timed Systems" 201
Automated analysis of feature models: Quo vadis?
Feature models have been used since the 90's to describe software product lines as a way of reusing common parts in a family of software systems. In 2010, a systematic literature review was published summarizing the advances and settling the basis of the area of Automated Analysis of Feature Models (AAFM). From then on, different studies have applied the AAFM in different domains. In this paper, we provide an overview of the evolution of this field since 2010 by performing a systematic mapping study considering 423 primary sources. We found six different variability facets where the AAFM is being applied that define the tendencies: product configuration and derivation; testing and evolution; reverse engineering; multi-model variability-analysis; variability modelling and variability-intensive systems. We also confirmed that there is a lack of industrial evidence in most of the cases. Finally, we present where and when the papers have been published and who are the authors and institutions that are contributing to the field. We observed that the maturity is proven by the increment in the number of journals published along the years as well as the diversity of conferences and workshops where papers are published. We also suggest some synergies with other areas such as cloud or mobile computing among others that can motivate further research in the future.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2015-70560-RJunta de Andalucía TIC-186
Detecting and Explaining Conflicts in Attributed Feature Models
Product configuration systems are often based on a variability model. The
development of a variability model is a time consuming and error-prone process.
Considering the ongoing development of products, the variability model has to
be adapted frequently. These changes often lead to mistakes, such that some
products cannot be derived from the model anymore, that undesired products are
derivable or that there are contradictions in the variability model. In this
paper, we propose an approach to discover and to explain contradictions in
attributed feature models efficiently in order to assist the developer with the
correction of mistakes. We use extended feature models with attributes and
arithmetic constraints, translate them into a constraint satisfaction problem
and explore those for contradictions. When a contradiction is found, the
constraints are searched for a set of contradicting relations by the
QuickXplain algorithm.Comment: In Proceedings FMSPLE 2015, arXiv:1504.0301
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