A Petri Net Variability Model for Software Product Lines

Abstract

Variability is defined as the possibility that a system has to be extended, changed, localized or configured in order to be used in a particular context. Variability specification in a software product line (SPL) is a main activity where product families are specified in terms of variants and dependencies. One way of defining the variability of a SPL is through a feature model (FM). However, the product families obtained can present feasibility problems, for instance, inclusion rules that can result contradictory which is translated in a set of features impossible to be incorporated into any product. Such inconveniences may come from the initial feature model developed as well from modifications introduced to satisfy new demands. In this paper a tool based on Petri nets is proposed in order to represent and analyze FMs as well as detecting the problems mentioned before.