A review on variability mechanisms for product lines

Software product line SPL is an approach that develops a family of similar software products by maximising the reusability of development artefacts. Variability that differentiates a product from others plays a pivotal role in SPL, together with commonality. Variability mechanisms have been suggested in many development approaches, and new mechanisms have been proposed in SPL approaches. This paper analyses the existing literature on potential variability mechanisms, and thereafter tries to determine the state of the practice and possible weaknesses in the practice. As for the results, there are few mechanisms that can be used in the early lifecycle phases, and most of those mechanisms support late-binding.

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