A Refactoring-Based Approach to Support Binary Backward-Compatible Framework Upgrades

Abstract

Evolutionary changes applied to a framework API may invalidate existing framework-based applications. While manually adapting applications is expensive and error-prone, automatic adaptation demands cumbersome specifications, which the developers are reluctant to write and maintain. Considering structural changes (so-called refactorings) of framework APIs, our adaptation technology supports backward-compatible framework upgrade. The technology is rigorous defining precisely the structure and automatic derivation of compensating adapters. It is also practical compensating for most application-breaking API changes automatically, while requiring neither manual adaptation nor recompilation of existing application code