Process support for product line application engineering.

The derivation of products from a software product line is a time-consuming and expensive activity. Despite recognition that an effective process could alleviate many of the difficulties associated with product derivation, existing approaches have different scope, emphasize different aspects of the derivation process and are frequently too specialized to serve as a general solution. In response to a need for methodological support, we developed Pro-PD (Process model for Product Derivation). Pro-PD was iteratively developed and evaluated through four research stages involving academic and industrial sources. This paper illustrates how Pro-PD provides systematic support by using product derivation preparation as an example.