Enabling Safe Dynamic Component-Based Software Adaptation

Abstract

Abstract. Recomposable software enables a system to change its structure and behavior during execution, in response to a dynamic execution environment. This paper proposes an approach to ensure that such adaptations are safe with respect to system consistency. The proposed method takes into consideration dependency analysis for target components, specifically determining viable sequences of adaptive actions and those states in which an adaptive action may be applied safely. We demonstrate that the technique ensures safe adaptation (insertion, removal, and replacement of components) in response to changing external conditions in a wireless multicast video application.

Applying Digital Evolution to the Development of Self-Adaptive ULS Systems

“…The software development tools and techniques produced by the ORCHID project will enable the designer to model software systems as digital organisms, observe their evolution under various conditions, and use the results to refine and improve the models. In related studies, McKinley, Cheng and colleagues have investigated several aspects of adaptive software design, In particular, the RAPIDware project [2] addresses high-assurance adaptive software, including programming language support [24,25], middleware support [26,27], cross-layer cooperation distributed applications [28,29], and techniques to maintain the state of the the system across adaptations [30,31].…”

“…Safe Adaptation and State Management. Safe adaptation refers to preserving the integrity or consistency of the system as it adapts [31]. In many cases, recomposition of algorithmic or structural components at run-time requires the transfer of nontransient state information between an old component and its replacement.…”

Dynamic Turing Machine: model and properties for runtime code changes

“…Another solution for Java was proposed by Zhang et. al [21]. These authors treat a change as a path on a graph of safe configurations, allowing us to better judge whether a given change is possible or not.…”

Using Models at Runtime to Address Assurance for Self-Adaptive Systems

“…As such, the steady-state program that delivers the basic function or service of an SAS is the target of the adaptation process that is managed by the controller. During the adaptation process, it is important to provide assurance that the system does not become inconsistent (e.g., no data is lost and transactions are not interrupted) [KM90,ZCYM05,ZC06b].…”