Modular modelling of software product lines with feature nets

Abstract

Formal modelling and verification are critical for managing the inherent complexity of systems with a high degree of variability, such as those designed following the software product line (SPL) paradigm. SPL models tend to be large-the number of products in an SPL can be exponential in the number of features. Modelling these systems poses two main challenges. Firstly, a modular modelling formalism that scales well is required. Secondly, the ability to analyse and verify complex models efficiently is key in order to ensure that all products behave correctly. The choice of a system modelling formalism that is both expressive and well-established is therefore crucial. In this paper we show how SPLs can be modelled in an incremental, modular fashion using a formal method based on Petri nets. We continue our work on Feature Petri Nets, a lightweight extension to Petri nets, by presenting a framework for modularly constructing Feature Petri Nets to model SPLs. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.