Extreme Product Line Engineering: Managing Variability and Traceability via Executable Specifications

Abstract

Extreme Programming (XP) has been reported to work well by valuing principles of simplicity, lightweight practices, effective feedback and continuous process and product improvement. This paper describes an approach towards managing software product lines in a setting where XP practices are common. The paper is an action research describing a case where we handled variability in the domain of intelligent home systems to satisfy a range of requirements by our industrial partner. The paper delves into how variability and traceability of requirements can be managed via executable specifications. A case study was used to evaluate the approach, and it provided initial insights on its feasibility and usefulness.