The Model for Enhanced Variability Management Process in Software Product Line

The paper presents a novel model for the process of managing software Variability – the ability of a software system or artefact to be extended, changed, customized or configured for use in a specific context – in Software Product Line (PL). The process pretends to be enhanced (i. e. consistent, scalable, traceable, visible and rational as for the decisions being made on Variability) to mitigate some its limitations. To this end the Model proposed composes: Management Functions uniformly combining all the actions on variability into single cycle like Doeming Plan-Do-Check-Act one; due quality Demands for the Functions; their Environment driven with another novel Model of Variability in PL. It consistently represents variability both in PL structure and artefacts across all PL development stages and stakeholders’ viewpoints along with the dedicated assessment submodel purposing at the decisions’ rationality. Presented sample Case Study with trial Workflow-based Configurator tool just developed in the Institute of Software Systems of NAS promises availability of the process constructed for efficient automated support.