Assessing aspect modularizations using design structure matrix and net option value

  • Authors:

  • Cristina Videira Lopes;Sushil Krishna Bajracharya

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Informatics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine;Department of Informatics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine

  • Venue:
  • Transactions on Aspect-Oriented Software Development I
  • Year:
  • 2006

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

The design structure matrix (DSM) methodology and the net option value (NOV) model have been used before to show how aspects can add value to a design. Following an in-depth analysis of that study, this paper demonstrates how aspects can be beneficial as well as detrimental. The structural transformations involved in aspect modularizations are carefully analyzed in the context of DSMs. This analysis exposes the unique reversion effect on dependencies that aspect modules are known for. To capture that effect within the NOV model, we extend its original set of six modular operators with an additional reversion operator. Using a design case study, its NOV worksheet and NOV experiments' curves are presented to show a simulation of the evolutionary patterns of modules, including aspect modules. These patterns show how subtle dependencies, or the lack of them, bring down, or up, the value of an existing design. Based on the observations made in this case study, preliminary design guidelines for aspects are formulated.