A summary for a breakout group discussion

1. VARSA 2012
Breakout session
Topic: variability and traceability

2. Variability
Approaches to capturing variability in
architectural views:
● Integrated into views
● Easier, but little traceability.
● Separated (= orthogonal), in a variability view
● Easier to trace (mapping to other views), but
added complexity and up-front investment.
● Combination of both
● Including case-by-case decisions and
heterogeneous views.

3. Traceability
Traceability between:
● Separate variability models and architecture
models.
● Architecture views with embedded variability
● Views and other artifacts (e.g. code, tests)

4. Research agenda (1 of 2)
● How to combine Separation of Concerns and
integration with respect to variability
● Look at stakeholders' needs, nature of domain
● “No silver bullet” in variability representation
● Don't add too much overhead
● Use cost-based reasoning
● Manage many options with abstraction – or
avoid them

5. Research agenda (2 of 2)
● Automation opportunities:
● Checking consistency of models
● Deriving products
● Creating traceability links
● Integration of different variability management
approaches in heterogeneous organizations
● Traceability through a single metamodel that
is used to generate architectural views