22 research outputs found
Semantic Modelling for Product Line Engineering
The aim of our work is to present solutions and a methodical support for automated techniques and
procedures in domain engineering, in particular for variability modeling. Our approach is based upon Semantic
Modeling concepts, for which semantic description, representation patterns and inference mechanisms are
defined. Thus, model-driven techniques enriched with semantics will allow flexibility and variability in
representation means, reasoning power and the required analysis depth for the identification, interpretation and
adaptation of artifact properties and qualities
RED-PL, a Method for Deriving Product Requirements from a Product Line Requirements Model
International audienceSoftware product lines (SPL) modeling has proven to be an effective approach to reuse in software development. Several variability approaches were developed to plan requirements reuse, but only little of them actually address the issue of deriving product requirements. Indeed, while the modeling approaches sell on requirements reuse, the associated derivation techniques actually focus on deriving and reusing technical product data.This paper presents a method that intends to support requirements derivation.Its underlying principle is to take advantage of approaches made for reuse PL requirements and to complete them by a requirements development process by reuse for single products. The proposed approach matches users' product requirements with PL requirements models and derives a collection ofrequirements that is (i) consistent, and (ii) optimal with respect to users' priorities and company's constraints. The proposed methodological process was validated in an industrial setting by considering the requirement engineering phase of a product line of blood analyzers
Solving Integer Constraint in Reuse Based Requirements Engineering
International audienceProduct Lines (PL) have proved an effective approach to reuse-based systems development. Several modelling languages were proposed so far to specify PL. Although they can be very different, these languages show two common features: they emphasize (a) variability, and (b) the specification of constraints to define acceptable configurations. It is now widely acknowledged that configuring a product can be considered as a constraint satisfaction problem. It is thus natural to consider constraint programming as a first choice candidate to specify constraints on PL. For instance, the different constraints that can be specified using the FODA language can easily be expressed using boolean constraints, which enables automated calculation and configuration using a SAT solver. But constraint programming proposes other domains than the boolean domain: for instance integers, real, or sets. The integer domain was, for instance, proposed by Benavides to specify constraints on feature attributes. This paper proposes to further explore the use of integer constraint programming to specify PL constraints. The approach was implemented in a prototype tool. Its use in a real case showed that constraint programming encompasses different PL modeling languages (such as FORE, OVM, or else), and allows to specify complex constraints that are difficult to specify with these languages
Using Integer Constraint Solving in Reuse Based Requirements Engineering
Product Lines (PL) have proved an effective approach to reuse-based systems
development. Several modeling languages were proposed so far to specify PL.
Although they can be very different, these languages show two common features:
they emphasize (a) variability, and (b) the specification of constraints to
define acceptable configurations. It is now widely acknowledged that
configuring a product can be considered as a constraint satisfaction problem.
It is thus natural to consider constraint programming as a first choice
candidate to specify constraints on PL. For instance, the different constraints
that can be specified using the FODA language can easily be expressed using
boolean constraints, which enables automated calculation and configuration
using a SAT solver. But constraint programming proposes other domains than the
boolean domain: for instance integers, real, or sets. The integer domain was,
for instance, proposed by Benavides to specify constraints on feature
attributes. This paper proposes to further explore the use of integer
constraint programming to specify PL constraints. The approach was implemented
in a prototype tool. Its use in a real case showed that constraint programming
encompasses different PL modeling languages (such as FORE, OVM, or else), and
allows specifying complex constraints that are difficult to specify with these
languages
Deriving Product Line Requirements: the RED-PL Guidance Approach
Product lines (PL) modeling have proven to be an effective approach to reuse
in software development.Several variability approaches were developed to plan
requirements reuse, but only little of them actuallyaddress the issue of
deriving product requirements.This paper presents a method, RED-PL that intends
to support requirements derivation. The originality ofthe proposed approach is
that (i) it is user-oriented, (ii) it guides product requirements elicitation
andderivation as a decision making activity, and (iii) it provides systematic
and interactive guidance assistinganalysts in taking decisions about
requirements. The RED-PL methodological process was validatedin an industrial
setting by considering the requirement engineering phase of a product line of
blood analyzers
Standalone closed-form formula for the throughput rate of asynchronous normally distributed serial flow lines
The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Flexible flow lines use flexible entities to generate multiple product variants using the same serial routing. Evaluative analytical models for the throughput rate of asynchronous serial flow lines were mainly developed for the Markovian case where processing times, arrival rates, failure rates and setup times follow deterministic, exponential or phase-type distributions. Models for non-Markovian processes are non-standalone and were obtained by extending the exponential case. This limits the suitability of existing models for real-world human-dependent flow lines, which are typically represented by a normal distribution. We exploit data mining and simulation modelling to derive a standalone closed-form formula for the throughput rate of normally distributed asynchronous human-dependent serial flow lines. Our formula gave steady results that are more accurate than those obtained with existing models across a wide range of discrete data sets
Supporting distributed product configuration by integrating heterogeneous variability modeling approaches
Context
In industrial settings products are developed by more than one organization. Software vendors and suppliers commonly typically maintain their own product lines, which contribute to a larger (multi) product line or software ecosystem. It is unrealistic to assume that the participating organizations will agree on using a specific variability modeling technique—they will rather use different approaches and tools to manage the variability of their systems.
Objective
We aim to support product configuration in software ecosystems based on several variability models with different semantics that have been created using different notations.
Method
We present an integrative approach that provides a unified perspective to users configuring products in multi product line environments, regardless of the different modeling methods and tools used internally. We also present a technical infrastructure and a prototype implementation based on web services.
Results
We show the feasibility of the approach and its implementation by using it with the three most widespread types of variability modeling approaches in the product line community, i.e., feature-based, OVM-style, and decision-oriented modeling. To demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of our approach, we present an example derived from industrial experience in enterprise resource planning. We further applied the approach to support the configuration of privacy settings in the Android ecosystem based on multiple variability models. We also evaluated the performance of different model enactment strategies used in our approach.
Conclusions
Tools and techniques allowing stakeholders to handle variability in a uniform manner can considerably foster the initiation and growth of software ecosystems from the perspective of software reuse and configuration.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2012-32273Junta de Andalucía TIC-186