Variability modules for Java-like languages

Abstract

A Software Product Line (SPL) is a family of similar programs (called variants) generated from a common artifact base. A Multi SPL (MPL) is a set of interdependent SPLs (i.e., such that an SPL's variant can depend on variants from other SPLs). MPLs are challenging to model and implement efficiently, especially when different variants of the same SPL must coexist and interoperate. We address this challenge by introducing variability modules (VMs), a new language construct. A VM represents both a module and an SPL of standard (variabilityfree), possibly interdependent modules. Generating a variant of a VM triggers the generation of all variants required to fulfill its dependencies. Then, a set of interdependent VMs represents an MPL that can be compiled into a set of standard modules. We illustrate VMs by an example from an industrial modeling scenario, formalize them in a core calculus, provide an implementation for the Java-like modeling language ABS, and evaluate VMs by case studies. CCS CONCEPTS• Software and its engineering → Software product lines; Modules / packages; Classes and objects.

Variability modules

“…We refer to Damiani et al (2017a) for a presentation of the notion of traits supported by ABS. 17 The VM concept was first developed and implemented for ABS (Damiani et al, 2021), then partially adapted and implemented in the Java runtime library (Setyautami and Hähnle, 2021).…”

“…The present article is based on an SPLC 2021 paper (Damiani et al, 2021), with the following extensions:…”

UML Transformation to Java-based Software Product Lines

“…Variability modules (VM) is an extension of a software module system that captures variability at the level of modules [7]. VM is designed to solve interoperability problems in product line variants.…”

“…Variability modules for Java (VMJ) is proposed to support SPLE development based on Java programming languages [6]. VMJ is a practical implementation of variability modules (VM) concept [7].VM is designed to solve interoperability problems in product line variants. VMJ provides an architectural pattern that combines design patterns and Java modules to develop a product line application.…”