Mapping SPL Feature Models to a Relational Database

Abstract

Building a software product line (SPL) is a systematic strategy for reusing software within a family of related systems from some application domain. To define an SPL, domain analysts must identify the common and variable aspects of systems in the family and capture this information so that it can be used effectively to construct specific products. Often analysts record this information using a feature model expressed visually as a feature diagram. The overall goal of this project is to enable wider use of SPLs by identifying relevant concepts, defining systematic methods, and developing practical tools that leverage familiar web programming technologies. This paper presents a novel approach to specification of feature models: capture the details using automatically generated user interfaces, encode the models in a relational database, and then validate the models and construct specific products using SQL.