A multiple-view meta-modeling approach for variability management in software product lines

Abstract

This paper describes a multiple-view meta-modeling approach for managing variability in software product lines using the Unified Modeling Language notation (UML). A multiple-view meta-model for software product lines describes how each view relates semantically to other views. The metamodel depicts life cycle phases, views within each phase, and meta-classes within each view. The relationships between the meta-classes in the different views are described. Consistency checking rules are defined based on the relationships among the meta-classes in the meta-model. This paper briefly describes multiple-view modeling of software product lines before describing the multiple-view meta-modeling approach for software product lines and an approach for consistency checking between meta-model views. The paper then provides a detailed description of the tool support for product line multipleview meta-modeling, meta-model consistency checking, and product line member configuration from the product line architecture. © Springer-Verlag 2004.