Synchronizing Cardinality-Based Feature Models and Their Specializations

A software product line comprises a set of products implementing
different configurations of features. The set of valid feature
configurations within a product line can be described by a feature
model. In some practical situations, a feature configuration needs to
be derived in stages by creating a series of successive
specializations of the initial feature model. In this paper, we
consider the scenario where changes to the feature model due to, for
example, the evolution of the product line, need to be propagated to
its existing specializations and configurations. After discussing
general dimensions of model synchronization, a solution to
synchronizing cardinality-based feature models and their
specializations and configurations is presented.