A Feature Modelling Language Based on Product Family Algebra

Abstract

<p>Feature modelling is an emerging software engineering paradigm, which helps organizations to develop products from core assets. Products are organized into families that share common core features. Feature modelling involves capturing, into a feature model, the commonality and variability of product families and several relationships among features or products. This thesis is about proposing a language for specifying feature models that is based on product family algebra (PFA). The language is intended to encompass the constructs found in early feature modelling graphical notations and languages. The thesis gives the syntax and the semantics of the proposed language. It discusses the design of its compiler that takes a feature model specification and generates its corresponding PFA, which can be analyzed using the tool Jory. The thesis uses a quite extensive case study to illustrate the use of the proposed language and its compiler.</p>