Deriving configuration interfaces from feature models: a vision paper

  • Authors:

  • Quentin Boucher;Gilles Perrouin;Patrick Heymans

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Namur, Belgium;University of Namur, Belgium;University of Namur, Belgium, Université Lille -- LIFL -- CNRS, France

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on Variability Modeling of Software-Intensive Systems
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

In software product lines, feature models are the de-facto standard for representing variability as well as for configuring products. Yet, configuration relying on feature models faces two issues: i) it assumes knowledge of the underlying formalism, which may not be true for end users and ii) it does not take advantage of advanced user-interface controls, leading to usability and integration problems with other parts of the user interface. To address these issues, our research focuses on the generation of configuration interfaces based on variability models, both from the visual and behavioral perspectives. We tackle visual issues by generating abstract user-interfaces from feature models. Regarding configuration behavior, in particular the configuration sequence, we plan to use feature configuration workflows, variability-aware models that exhibit similar characteristics as of task, user, discourse and business models found in the in the human-computer interaction community. This paper discusses the main challenges and possible solutions to realize our vision.