Mixing of Join Point Interfaces and Feature-Oriented Programming for Modular Software Product Line

Feature-oriented programming (FOP) and aspect-oriented programming (AOP) focus on to modularize incremental classes behavior and crosscutting concerns, respectively, for software evolution. So, these software development approaches represent advanced paradigms for a modular software product lines production. Thereby, a FOP and AOP symbiosis would permit reaching pros and cons of both approaches. FOP permits a modular re nement of classes collaboration for software product lines (SPL), an adequate approach to represent named heterogeneous crosscutting concerns. FOP works on changes of di erent functionality pieces for which to de ne join points is not a simple task. Similarly, AOP structurally modularizes in a re ned manner homogeneous crosscutting concerns. Since traditional AOP like AspectJ presents implicit dependencies and strong coupling between classes and aspects, and the Join Point Interface JPI ap-proach solves these classic AOP issues, this article presents JPI Feature Modules for the FOP + JPI SPL components modularization, i.e., collaboration of classes, aspects, and join point interfaces along with their evolution, for a SPL transparent implementation in a FOP + JPI context. In addition, this article shows JPI Feature Modules of a case study to highlight mutual bene ts of FOP and JPI approaches for a modular SPL software conception

JPI Feature Models: Exploring a JPI and FOP Symbiosis for Software Modeling

Looking for a complete modular software development paradigm, this article presents Join Point Interface JPI Feature Models, in the context of a JPI and Feature-Oriented Programming FOP symbiosis paradigm. Therefore, this article describes pros and cons of JPI and FOP approaches for the modular software and software product line production, respective; and highlights the benefits of this mixing proposal; in particular, the JPI Feature Model benefits for a high-level software product line modeling. As an application example, this article applies JPI Features Models on a classic FOP example already modeled using a previous aspect-oriented feature model proposal. Main goals of this application are to visualize traditional feature models preserved components such alternative and optional feature sets and optional and mandatory features as well as special features associations (cross-tree constraints), and differences and advantages with respect to previous research works about extending feature model to support aspect-oriented modeling principles

Configuration Analysis for Large Scale Feature Models: Towards Speculative-Based Solutions

Los sistemas de alta variabilidad son sistemas de software en los que la gestión de la variabilidad es una actividad central. Algunos ejemplos actuales de sistemas de alta variabilidad son el sistema web de gesión de contenidos Drupal, el núcleo de Linux, y las distribuciones Debian de Linux. La configuración en sistemas de alta variabilidad es la selección de opciones de configuración según sus restricciones de configuración y los requerimientos de usuario. Los modelos de características son un estándar “de facto” para modelar las funcionalidades comunes y variables de sistemas de alta variabilidad. No obstante, el elevado número de componentes y configuraciones que un modelo de características puede contener hacen que el análisis manual de estos modelos sea una tarea muy costosa y propensa a errores. Así nace el análisis automatizado de modelos de características con mecanismos y herramientas asistidas por computadora para extraer información de estos modelos. Las soluciones tradicionales de análisis automatizado de modelos de características siguen un enfoque de computación secuencial para utilizar una unidad central de procesamiento y memoria. Estas soluciones son adecuadas para trabajar con sistemas de baja escala. Sin embargo, dichas soluciones demandan altos costos de computación para trabajar con sistemas de gran escala y alta variabilidad. Aunque existan recusos informáticos para mejorar el rendimiento de soluciones de computación, todas las soluciones con un enfoque de computación secuencial necesitan ser adaptadas para el uso eficiente de estos recursos y optimizar su rendimiento computacional. Ejemplos de estos recursos son la tecnología de múltiples núcleos para computación paralela y la tecnología de red para computación distribuida. Esta tesis explora la adaptación y escalabilidad de soluciones para el analisis automatizado de modelos de características de gran escala. En primer lugar, nosotros presentamos el uso de programación especulativa para la paralelización de soluciones. Además, nosotros apreciamos un problema de configuración desde otra perspectiva, para su solución mediante la adaptación y aplicación de una solución no tradicional. Más tarde, nosotros validamos la escalabilidad y mejoras de rendimiento computacional de estas soluciones para el análisis automatizado de modelos de características de gran escala. Concretamente, las principales contribuciones de esta tesis son: • Programación especulativa para la detección de un conflicto mínimo y 1 2 preferente. Los algoritmos de detección de conflictos mínimos determinan el conjunto mínimo de restricciones en conflicto que son responsables de comportamiento defectuoso en el modelo en análisis. Nosotros proponemos una solución para, mediante programación especulativa, ejecutar en paralelo y reducir el tiempo de ejecución de operaciones de alto costo computacional que determinan el flujo de acción en la detección de conflicto mínimo y preferente en modelos de características de gran escala. • Programación especulativa para un diagnóstico mínimo y preferente. Los algoritmos de diagnóstico mínimo determinan un conjunto mínimo de restricciones que, por una adecuada adaptación de su estado, permiten conseguir un modelo consistente o libre de conflictos. Este trabajo presenta una solución para el diagnóstico mínimo y preferente en modelos de características de gran escala mediante la ejecución especulativa y paralela de operaciones de alto costo computacional que determinan el flujo de acción, y entonces disminuir el tiempo de ejecución de la solución. • Completar de forma mínima y preferente una configuración de modelo por diagnóstico. Las soluciones para completar una configuración parcial determinan un conjunto no necesariamente mínimo ni preferente de opciones para obtener una completa configuración. Esta tesis soluciona el completar de forma mínima y preferente una configuración de modelo mediante técnicas previamente usadas en contexto de diagnóstico de modelos de características. Esta tesis evalua que todas nuestras soluciones preservan los valores de salida esperados, y también presentan mejoras de rendimiento en el análisis automatizado de modelos de características con modelos de gran escala en las operaciones descrita

Clafer: Lightweight Modeling of Structure, Behaviour, and Variability

Embedded software is growing fast in size and complexity, leading to intimate mixture of complex architectures and complex control. Consequently, software specification requires modeling both structures and behaviour of systems. Unfortunately, existing languages do not integrate these aspects well, usually prioritizing one of them. It is common to develop a separate language for each of these facets. In this paper, we contribute Clafer: a small language that attempts to tackle this challenge. It combines rich structural modeling with state of the art behavioural formalisms. We are not aware of any other modeling language that seamlessly combines these facets common to system and software modeling. We show how Clafer, in a single unified syntax and semantics, allows capturing feature models (variability), component models, discrete control models (automata) and variability encompassing all these aspects. The language is built on top of first order logic with quantifiers over basic entities (for modeling structures) combined with linear temporal logic (for modeling behaviour). On top of this semantic foundation we build a simple but expressive syntax, enriched with carefully selected syntactic expansions that cover hierarchical modeling, associations, automata, scenarios, and Dwyer's property patterns. We evaluate Clafer using a power window case study, and comparing it against other notations that substantially overlap with its scope (SysML, AADL, Temporal OCL and Live Sequence Charts), discussing benefits and perils of using a single notation for the purpose

Specifying design rules in aspect-oriented systems

Programação Orientada a Aspectos é conhecida como uma técnica para modularização de interesses transversais. Entretanto, construções que visam apoiar a modularidade transversal podem quebrar a modularidade de classe. Como consequência, os desenvolvedores de classes enfrentam problemas de modificabilidade, desenvolvimento em paralelo e entendimento, porque precisam estar conscientes da implementação dos aspectos sempre que forem desenvolver ou dar manutenção em uma classe. Ao mesmo tempo, aspectos são vulneráveis a mudanças nas classes, já que não existe um contrato especificando os pontos de interação entre estes elementos. Estes problemas podem ser mitigados através de Regras de Projeto entre classes e aspectos. Nós apresentamos uma linguagem para especificação de Regras de Projeto (LSD) e exploramos seus benefícios desde as fases iniciais do processo de desenvolvimento, especialmente com o objetivo de dar apoio ao desenvolvimento modular de classes e aspectos. Nós discutimos como nossa linguagem melhora a modularidade transversal sem quebrar a modularidade de classe. Além disso, especificamos a semântica da linguagem em Alloy. A linguagem é implementada através de uma extensão do abc (AspectBench Compiler), tornando mais fácil expressar e checar muitas das Regras de Projeto encontradas em sistemas Orientados a Aspectos. Nós avaliamos LSD usando o sistema Health Watcher como estudo de caso e comparamos com abordagens existentes._________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Aspect-Oriented Programming is known as a technique for modularizing crosscutting concerns. However, constructs aimed to support crosscutting modularity might actually break class modularity. As a consequence, class developers face changeability, parallel development and comprehensibility problems, because they must be aware of aspects whenever they develop or maintain a class. At the same time, aspects are vulnerable to changes in classes, since there is no contract specifying the points of interaction amongst these elements. These problems can be mitigated by using adequate Design Rules between classes and aspects. We present a Design Rule specification language (LSD) and explore its benefits since the initial phases of the development process, specially with the aim of supporting modular development of classes and aspects. We discuss how our language improves crosscutting modularity without breaking class modularity. Besides, we specify the language semantics in Alloy. The language is implemented through an extension of abc (AspectBench Compiler), making it easy to express and check most of the Design Rules found in Aspect-Oriented systems. We evaluate the language using the Health Watcher system as case study and compare it with existent approaches

Model Transformation Languages with Modular Information Hiding

Model transformations, together with models, form the principal artifacts in model-driven software development. Industrial practitioners report that transformations on larger models quickly get sufficiently large and complex themselves. To alleviate entailed maintenance efforts, this thesis presents a modularity concept with explicit interfaces, complemented by software visualization and clustering techniques. All three approaches are tailored to the specific needs of the transformation domain

Model Transformation Languages with Modular Information Hiding

Model transformations, together with models, form the principal artifacts in model-driven software development. Industrial practitioners report that transformations on larger models quickly get sufficiently large and complex themselves. To alleviate entailed maintenance efforts, this thesis presents a modularity concept with explicit interfaces, complemented by software visualization and clustering techniques. All three approaches are tailored to the specific needs of the transformation domain