VarXplorer: Lightweight process for dynamic analysis of feature interactions

Larissa Rocha Soares, Jens Meinicke, Sarah Nadi, Christian Kästner, Eduardo Santana De Almeida

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Features in highly configurable systems can interact in undesired ways which may result in faults. However, most interactions are not easily detectable as specifications of feature interactions are usually missing. In this paper, we aim to detect interactions and to help create feature-interaction specifications. We use variational execution to observe internal interactions on control and data flow of highly configurable systems. The number of potential interactions can be large and hard to understand, especially as many interactions are benign. To help developers understand these interactions, we propose feature-interaction graphs as a concise representation of all pairwise interactions. We provide two analyses that provide additional details about interactions, namely suppress and require interactions. Finally, we propose a specification language that enables developers to define different kinds of allowed and forbidden interactions, which help to detect interaction faults. Our tool, VarXplorer, provides a visualization of feature-interaction graphs and supports the creation of feature interaction specifications. VarXplorer also provides an iterative analysis of feature interactions allowing developers to focus on suspicious cases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - VaMoS 2018
Subtitle of host publication12th International Workshop on Variability Modelling of Software-Intensive Systems
EditorsMalte Lochau, Rafael Capilla
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages59-66
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781450353984
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 7 2018
Event12th International Workshop on Variability Modelling of Software-Intensive Systems, VaMoS 2018 - Madrid, Spain
Duration: Feb 7 2018Feb 9 2018

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference12th International Workshop on Variability Modelling of Software-Intensive Systems, VaMoS 2018
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMadrid
Period2/7/182/9/18

Keywords

  • Configurable software
  • Feature interaction
  • Feature interaction specification
  • Variability-aware execution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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