OPLA-tool: a support tool for search-based product line architecture design

Abstract

The Product Line Architecture (PLA) design is a complex task, influenced by many factors such as feature modularization and PLA extensibility, which are usually evaluated according to different metrics. Hence, the PLA design is an optimization problem and problems like that have been successfully solved in the Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE) area, by using metaheuristics such as Genetic Algorithm. Considering this fact, this paper introduces a tool named OPLA-Tool, conceived to provide computer support to a search-based approach for PLA design. OPLA-Tool implements all the steps necessary to use multi-objective optimization algorithms, including PLA transformations and visualization through a graphical interface. OPLA-Tool receives as input a PLA at the class diagram level, and produces a set of good alternative diagrams in terms of cohesion, feature modularization and reduction of crosscutting concerns.