Autor: Raúl Medeiros Pérez

Tesis: "From Visualization to Decision-Making: Enhacing Software Product Line Evolution with Visual Interventions”   

Director: Óscar Díaz García

Fecha: 10 de junio de 2024
Hora: 12:30
Lugar: Sala Ada Lovelace

Abstract:

"Software product lines (SPLs) enable the systematic reuse of a family of software products to efficiently create diverse product instances tailored to customer needs. However, SPL evolution poses complex challenges due to the presence of distinct, interdependent asset types and variability. Despite the recognized importance of SPL evolution, tool support remains limited. Software visualization has proven useful for supporting program comprehension and evolution, but few visualizations specifically target SPL evolution activities and practices. This thesis aims to address this gap. To start, we conducted a systematic mapping study that reveals underexplored areas including incorporating user feedback into SPL evolution and employing longitudinal visualizations for version control systems data. This thesis puts forth solutions including: (1) CustomDIFF, an alluvial diagram-based tool that enables customization analysis during product-based SPL evolution; (2)  PortfolioScan, a dashboard enabling portfolio evolution analysis to support product line scoping decisions; and (3) a process (IF4SPLE) and tool support (FEACKER) for gathering and leveraging implicit user feedback at the SPLs platform level. Together, these contributions demonstrate the utility of tailored visualizations for providing actionable insights, integrating user data, and enhancing decision-making. The solutions proposed were rigorously evaluated and validated through close collaboration with industry partners in real-world, large-scale SPL settings. Following the Action Design Research approach, the artifacts were iteratively built, refined, and evaluated based on feedback from practitioner teams. The empirical studies within industrial contexts provided concrete evidence of the solutions' validity, practicality, and positive impact for supporting SPL evolution needs in the industry. This thesis provides both theoretical and practical advancement in augmenting SPL evolution through dedicated visualization tools."