City Research Online

Abstract

Software traceability has been recognized as an important activity in software system development. Traceability relations can improve the quality of a system being developed, as well as reduce the time and cost associated with the development. In particular, traceability relations can facilitate the development process, reuse of parts of the systems by comparing artefacts, validation that a system meets its requirements, understanding the rationale for certain design and implementation decisions, and analysis of the implications of changes in the system. However, support for traceability in software engineering environments and tools are not always adequate. In addition, automatic generation and maintenance of traceability relations are not easy tasks.

In contrast, product family systems, in which software systems share a common set of features and new product members can be built around a set of reusable artefacts, is considered an important paradigm for software system engineering. Despite its importance and advances in the area, the support for common and variable aspects among applications and the engineering of reusable and adaptable components are difficult tasks. This is mainly due to the large number and heterogeneity' of documents generated during the development of product family systems.

The underlying principle of this thesis is to use of traceability to support the difficulties associated with product family systems. More specifically, traceability can assist with the identification of common and variable functionalities of the product members, reduction of inconsistencies between product members, reuse of available core assets, and establishment of relationships between product members and product family architectures.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Computer Science School of Science & Technology > School of Science & Technology Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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