Analysis of runtime feature dependency relationships in product line assets

Features in a feature-oriented software product line interact and depend on each other in unexpected ways. Runtime feature dependency relationships implement the runtime behaviour of the end product derived from a product line. Analyzing runtime feature dependency relationships can facilitate the product line engineer to predict faults upfront during the platform development of a product line. The aim of this research is to facilitate a product line engineer by providing the consistency checking of runtime feature dependency relationships in the product line assets (i.e., between runtime feature dependency relationships specification and their respective implementations using aspect pattern-based solutions). We propose a four-step technique for consistency checking of runtime feature dependency relationships between the product line artefacts. We provide a tool-support based on Eclipse framework as set of plug-ins. For validation purposes we use an existing scientific calculator product line.