Title: A review on variability mechanisms for product lines

Authors: Jihyun Lee; Sunmyung Hwang

Addresses: Daejeon University, 62, Daehak-Ro, Dong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea ' Department of Computer Engineering, Daejeon University, 62 Daehak-Ro, Dong-Gu, Daejeon, Korea

Abstract: Software product line (SPL) is an approach that develops a family of similar software products by maximising the reusability of development artefacts. Variability that differentiates a product from others plays a pivotal role in SPL, together with commonality. Variability mechanisms have been suggested in many development approaches, and new mechanisms have been proposed in SPL approaches. This paper analyses the existing literature on potential variability mechanisms, and thereafter tries to determine the state of the practice and possible weaknesses in the practice. As for the results, there are few mechanisms that can be used in the early lifecycle phases, and most of those mechanisms support late-binding.

Keywords: SPL; software product lines; variability mechanisms; variability realisation; platform; reuse; reusability; software development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMC.2014.060497

International Journal of Advanced Media and Communication, 2014 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.172 - 181

Received: 11 Jun 2013
Accepted: 18 Sep 2013

Published online: 17 Apr 2014 *

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