rbFeatures: Feature-oriented programming with Ruby
Features are pieces of core functionality of a program that is relevant to particular stakeholders. Features pose dependencies and constraints among each other. These dependencies and constraints describe the possible number of variants of the program: A valid feature configuration generates a speci...
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| Published in: | Science of computer programming Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 152 - 173 |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V
01.03.2012
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| Subjects: | |
| ISSN: | 0167-6423, 1872-7964 |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Features are pieces of core functionality of a program that is relevant to particular stakeholders. Features pose dependencies and constraints among each other. These dependencies and constraints describe the possible number of variants of the program: A valid feature configuration generates a specific variant with unique behavior. Feature-Oriented Programming is used to implement features as program units. This paper introduces rbFeatures, a feature-oriented programming language implemented on top of the dynamic programming language Ruby. With rbFeatures, programmers use software product lines, variants, and features as first-class entities. This allows several runtime reflection and modification capabilities, including the extension of the product line with new features and the provision of multiple variants. The paper gives a broad overview to the implementation and application of rbFeatures. We explain how features as first-class entities are designed and implemented, and discuss how the semantics of features are carefully added to Ruby programs. We show two case studies: The expression product line, a common example in feature-oriented programming, and a web application.
► rbFeatures implements features and product lines as first-class entities. ► Feature-refactoring of existing programs requires only small code modifications. ► Arbitrary product variants can be created and modified at runtime. ► rbFeatures is a pure language extension that works with several Ruby interpreters. |
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| ISSN: | 0167-6423 1872-7964 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.scico.2010.12.007 |