Simple Crosscutting Concerns Are Not So Simple: Analysing Variability in Large-Scale Idioms-Based Implementations

Simple Crosscutting Concerns Are Not So Simple: Analysing Variability in Large-Scale Idioms-Based Implementations

Bruntink, M.
Van Deursen, A.
d’Hondt, M.
Tourwé, T.

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Software Technology

2007-03-12

This paper describes a method for studying idioms-based implementations of crosscutting concerns, and our experiences with it in the context of a real-world, large-scale embedded software system. In particular, we analyse a seemingly simple concern, tracing, and show that it exhibits significant variability, despite the use of a prescribed idiom. We discuss the consequences of this variability in terms of how aspect-oriented software development techniques could help prevent it, how it paralyses (automated) migration efforts, and which aspect language features are required in order to obtain precise and concise aspects. Additionally, we elaborate on the representativeness of our results and on the usefulness of our proposed method. Preprint accepted for publication in: Sixth International Conference on Aspect-Oriented Software Development, Vancouver, Canada, March 12-16, 2007

Aspect-oriented programming
variability
idioms
crosscutting concerns
formal concept analysis

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:63a92786-4cf6-472f-b690-7a058797e9e5

Delft University of Technology, Software Engineering Research Group

1872-5392

Technical Report Series TUD-SERG-2007-001

Institutional Repository

report

(c) 2007 The authors. Software Engineering Research Group, Department of Software Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology.