Supporting Change in Product Lines Within the Context of Use Case-driven Development and Testing

Product Line Engineering (PLE) is a crucial practice in many software development environments where systems are complex and developed for multiple customers with varying needs. At the same time, many business contexts are use case-driven where use cases are the main artifacts driving requirements elicitation and many other development activities. In these contexts, variability information is often not explicitly represented, which leads to ad-hoc change management for use cases, domain models and test cases in product families. In this thesis, we address the problems of modeling variability in requirements with additional traceability to feature models and the manual and error prone requirements configuration and regression testing in product families. We provide the following contributions: - A modeling method for capturing variability information in product line use case and domain models by relying exclusively on commonly used artifacts in use-case driven development, thus avoiding unnecessary modeling overhead. - An approach for automated configuration of product specific use case and domain models that guides customers in making configuration decisions and automatically generates use case diagrams, use case specifications, and domain models for configured products. - A change impact analysis approach for evolving configuration decisions in product line use case models that automatically identifies the impact of decision changes on other decisions, and incrementally reconfigures product specific use case diagrams and specifications for evolving decisions. - An approach for automated classification and prioritization of system test cases in a family of products that automatically classifies and prioritizes, for each new product, system test cases of previous product(s) in a product line, and provides guidance in modifying existing system test cases to cover new use case scenarios that have not been tested in the product line before. All our approaches have been developed and evaluated in close collaboration with our industry partner IEE

A Change Management Approach in Product Lines for Use Case-Driven Development and Testing

In this paper, driven by industrial needs, we present a change management approach for product lines within the context of use case-driven development and testing. As part of the approach, we first provide a modeling method to support variability modeling in Product Line (PL) use case diagrams, specifications, and domain models, intentionally avoiding any reliance on feature models and thus avoiding unnecessary modeling and traceability overhead. Then, we introduce a use case-driven configuration approach based on the proposed modelling method to automatically generate Product Specific (PS) use case and domain models from the PL models and configuration decisions. Building on this, we provide a change impact analysis approach for evolving configuration decisions in PL use case models. In addition, we plan to develop a change impact analysis approach for evolving PL use case models and an automated regression test selection technique for evolving configuration decisions and PL models

PUMConf: A Tool to Configure Product Specific Use Case and Domain Models in a Product Line

We present PUMConf, a tool for supporting configuration that currently focuses on requirements and enables effective product line management in the context of use case-driven development. By design, it relies exclusively on variability modeling for artifacts that are commonly used in such contexts (i.e., use case diagram, specifications and domain model). For given Product Line (PL) use case and domain models, PUMConf checks the consistency of the models, interactively receives configuration decisions from analysts, automatically checks decision consistency, and generates Product Specific (PS) use case and domain models from the PL models and decisions. It has been evaluated on an industrial case study in the automotive domain

Change Impact Analysis for Evolving Configuration Decisions in Product Line Use Case Models

Product Line Engineering is becoming a key practice in many software development environments where complex systems are developed for multiple customers with varying needs. In many business contexts, use cases are the main artifacts for communicating requirements among stakeholders. In such contexts, Product Line (PL) use cases capture variable and common requirements while use case-driven configuration generates Product Specific (PS) use cases for each new customer in a product family. In this paper, we propose, apply, and assess a change impact analysis approach for evolving configuration decisions in PL use case models. Our approach includes: (1) automated support to identify the impact of decision changes on prior and subsequent decisions in PL use case diagrams and (2) automated incremental regeneration of PS use case models from PL use case models and evolving configuration decisions. Our tool support is integrated with IBM Doors. Our approach has been evaluated in an industrial case study, which provides evidence that it is practical and beneficial to analyze the impact of decision changes and to incrementally regenerate PS use case models in industrial settings

A Computational Study for the Steiner Tree Problem with Revenue, Budget and Hop Constraints

We address the Steiner tree problem with revenues, budget and hop constraints (STPRBH), which is a generalization of the well-known Steiner tree problem. Given a connected undirected graph, a root node, edge costs and delays, nodes revenues, as well as a preset budget and hop, the STPRBH seeks to find a subtree that includes the root node, satisfies bound constraints on the total edge cost as well as the number of edges between any node and the root node, while maximizing the sum of the total node revenues. We focus on investigating polynomial-sized formulations. First, we propose an enhanced formulation based on the Miller-Tucker-Zemlin subtour constraints. Next, we investigate a nonlinear MIP formulation that is linearized using the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT). We present the results of a comprehensive computational study of the proposed formulations. These result provide evidence that benchmark instances with up to 500 nodes can be effectively solved using the proposed RLT-based formulation

Applying Product Line Use Case Modeling in an Industrial Automotive Embedded System: Lessons Learned and a Refined Approach

In this paper, we propose, apply, and assess Product line Use case modeling Method (PUM), an approach that supports modeling variability at different levels of granularity in use cases and domain models. Our motivation is that, in many software development environments, use case modeling drives interactions among stakeholders and, therefore, use cases and domain models are common practice for requirements elicitation and analysis. In PUM, we integrate and adapt existing product line extensions for use cases and introduce some template extensions for use case specifications. Variability is captured in use case diagrams while it is reflected at a greater level of detail in use case specifications. Variability in domain concepts is captured in domain models. PUM is supported by a tool relying on Natural Language Processing (NLP). We successfully applied PUM to an industrial automotive embedded system and report lessons learned and results from structured interviews with experienced engineers

Propuesta de plan de gestión para la recuperación y valorización de residuos de envases y embalajes para el cumplimiento de la responsabilidad extendida del productor en CMPC Tissue Chile

Seminario para optar al Título de Químico Ambiental.En este seminario de título se estudió la recientemente promulgada Ley N°20.920 del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, la cual establece el marco para la gestión de residuos, la responsabilidad extendida del productor y el fomento al reciclaje. En ella, se menciona la obligación de los productores de seis productos prioritarios que determina la Ley (aceites lubricantes, aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos, baterías, envases y embalajes, neumáticos y pilas), quienes deben organizar y financiar un sistema de gestión que les permita recolectar y valorizar los residuos de sus productos. Ante este escenario, CMPC Tissue Chile es una empresa que, al producir, comercializar e importar productos de papel higiénico, toallas de papel, servilletas, papel facial, pañales, toallas femeninas, entre otros, introducen al mercado un producto prioritario, como es el caso de los envases y embalajes, y por tanto, se ve afecto a las obligaciones establecidas en la mencionada Ley. De esta manera, mediante la recolección de antecedentes se determinó el manejo actual de envases y embalajes realizado por la empresa, las cuales incluyen identificación, cuantificación, comercialización y actividades de recuperación. Además, se analizó la normativa y gestión ambiental en el extranjero y en nuestro país, para proponer la mejor alternativa que permita el cumplimiento de la Responsabilidad Extendida del Productor, a partir de la capacidad actual existente y de las fórmulas utilizadas en los exitosos sistemas de gestión en países europeos. Se identificó tres materiales utilizados por CMPC Tissue como envase: Polietileno de baja densidad, Polipropileno y cartulina, los cuales corresponden al 2,2% en peso de la cantidad total producida e importada durante 2016. Los residuos de dichos envases se concentran mayoritariamente en la Región Metropolitana con un 51% del total de las ventas, seguido por la Región del Biobío y Región de Valparaíso. Además, en la actualidad, CMPC es parte de un proyecto de reciclaje colectivo en conjunto con otras empresas, permitiendo a la comunidad la disposición de sus desechos post-consumo para su posterior valorización, reuniendo 760 toneladas de residuos en 2016. ix La experiencia internacional demostró que los países de la Unión Europea se encuentran en una posición con vasta experiencia en Responsabilidad Extendida del Productor de envases y embalajes, siendo Alemania y Holanda los países con mejores resultados en recuperación de plásticos, teniendo en común la recolección en origen mediante bolsas de basura especiales por tipo de residuo en los hogares, situando a los municipios y a la ciudadanía como eje principal de los sistemas de gestión de cada país, utilizando estrategias de educación ambiental desde etapas básicas, hasta campañas publicitarias de gran impacto y sensibilización para la comunidad. En el caso de nuestro país, la recuperación de envases y embalajes recolectado desde los residuos sólidos municipales se realiza principalmente de tres maneras: (1) retiro en origen mediante camión recolector o (2) recicladores de base, y (3) disposición en puntos limpios, y se realiza mayoritariamente en la Región Metropolitana, siendo la región más adelantada en cuanto a proyectos de reciclaje, debido principalmente a la alta densidad poblacional en la región; mientras que en otras regiones la prioridad es terminar con los problemas de disposición final de residuos, cerrando vertederos ilegales e implementando rellenos sanitarios, situando en segundo plano los programas que fomentan el reciclaje en la comunidad. En consecuencia, la propuesta de implementación para el cumplimiento de la Responsabilidad Extendida del Productor considera la participación de CMPC Tissue Chile en un sistema de gestión individual con la participación de gestores autorizados como SOREPA y municipalidades para la recolección, y de las empresas CMPC y CAMBIASO para la valorización, considerando cuatro estrategias que permiten la recuperación de más de un 40% en peso del total de residuos de envases tanto en la Región Metropolitana, como en otras regiones del país, dependiendo de las condiciones que se estipulen en los futuros Decretos Supremos que establezcan las metas de recolección y valorización.In this seminar, the recently enacted law N° 20.920 of the Ministry of the Environment was studied, which establishes the framework for waste management, the extended responsibility of the producer and the promotion of recycling. It mentions the obligation of the producers of six priority products determined by the Law (lubricating oils, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries, containers and packaging, tires and batteries), who must organize and finance a management system that allows them to collect and value the waste of their products. Given this situation, CMPC Tissue Chile is a company producing, marketing and importing toilet paper products, paper towels, napkins, facial paper, diapers, feminine towels, among others, introduce a priority product to the market, such as case of package and packaging, and therefore, it is subject to the obligations established in the aforementioned Law. In this way, through the collection of background information, the current package and packaging activities carried out by the company were determined, which include identification, quantification, commercialization and recovery activities. In addition, the regulations and environmental management were researched abroad and in our country, to propose the best alternative that allows the fulfillment of Extended Producer Responsibility, based on the current existing capacity and the formulas used in the successful systems of management in European countries. Three materials used by CMPC Tissue were identified as package: low density Polyethylene, Polypropylene and cardboard, which correspond to 2.2% by weight of the total amount produced and imported during 2016. The wastes from these packages are concentrated mainly in the Metropolitan Region with 51% of the total sales, followed by the Region of Biobío and Region of Valparaíso. In addition, at present, CMPC is part of a collective recycling project in conjunction with other companies, allowing the community to dispose of its post-consumer waste for subsequent recovery, collecting 760 tons of waste in 2016. The international experience showed that the countries of the European Union are in a position with extensive experience in Extended Responsibility of the producer of packaging, Germany and Holland being the countries with the best results in recovery of xi plastics, having in common the collection in origin through special garbage bags by type of waste in homes, placing municipalities and citizenship as the main axis of the management systems of each country, using environmental education strategies from basic stages, to high-impact advertising campaigns and community awareness-raising. In the case of our country, the recovery of package and packaging collected from municipal solid waste is mainly done in three ways: (1) removal at source by truck collection or (2) base recyclers, and (3) disposal in clean points, and is mostly done in the Metropolitan Region, being the most advanced region in terms of recycling projects, mainly due to the high population density in the region; while in other regions the priority is to end the problems of final disposal of waste, closing illegal dumps and implementing landfills, relegating to a second place programs that promote recycling in the community. Consequently, the proposal of implementation for the fulfillment of Extended Producer Responsibility considers the participation of CMPC Tissue Chile in an individual management system with the participation of authorized management companies such as SOREPA and municipalities for the collection, and of CMPC and CAMBIASO for the valorization, considering four strategies that allow the recovery of more than 40% of packaging waste in the Metropolitan Region as in other regions of the country, depending on the conditions stipulated in the future Supreme Decrees that establish the goals of collection and valorization

Configuring use case models in product families

In many domains such as automotive and avionics, the size and complexity of software systems is quickly increasing. At the same time, many stakeholders tend to be involved in the development of such systems, which typically must also be configured for multiple customers with varying needs. Product Line Engineering (PLE) is therefore an inevitable practice for such systems. Furthermore, because in many areas requirements must be explicit and traceability to them is required by standards, use cases and domain models are common practice for requirements elicitation and analysis. In this paper, based on the above observations, we aim at supporting PLE in the context of use case-centric development. Therefore, we propose, apply, and assess a use case-driven configuration approach which interactively receives configuration decisions from the analysts to generate Product Specific (PS) use case and domain models. Our approach provides the following: (1) a use case-centric product line modeling method (PUM), (2) automated, interactive configuration support based on PUM, and (3) an automatic generation of PS use case and domain models from Product Line (PL) models and configuration decisions. The approach is supported by a tool relying on Natural Language Processing (NLP), and integrated with an industrial requirements management tool, i.e., IBM Doors. We successfully applied and evaluated our approach to an industrial case study in the automotive domain, thus showing evidence that the approach is practical and beneficial to capture variability at the appropriate level of granularity and to configure PS use case and domain models in industrial settings