Classifying variability modeling techniques

  • Authors:
  • Marco Sinnema;Sybren Deelstra

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands

  • Venue:
  • Information and Software Technology
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

Variability modeling is important for managing variability in software product families, especially during product derivation. In the past few years, several variability modeling techniques have been developed, each using its own concepts to model the variability provided by a product family. The publications regarding these techniques were written from different viewpoints, use different examples, and rely on a different technical background. This paper sheds light on the similarities and differences between six variability modeling techniques, by exemplifying the techniques with one running example, and classifying them using a framework of key characteristics for variability modeling. It furthermore discusses the relation between differences among those techniques, and the scope, size, and application domain of product families.