Current Projects

Traditional algebraic frameworks for bidirectional transformations are state-based: the input and output are states of data. But actual implementations are delta-based: the synchronizer tries to understand what is the delta resulted from the update, and then try to propagate the delta.

We show that state-based algebraic framework has several drawbacks, and build delta-based algebraic frameworks for both the asymmetric case and the symmetric case.

Set of tools for feature modeling, configuration, feature-based model templates, template instantiation and verification.

This project investigates and studies large-scale real world feature models, such as the Linux kernel, with more than 6000 features, and Ecos, with over 1000 features.

We have studied the their structural characteristics (size, depth, width, number of constraints), the evolution of the model, and also the languages used for expressing these models and their semantics.

The Network for the Engineering of Complex Software-Intensive Systems for Automotive Systems (NECSIS) is a research network to tackle the obstacles and develop new MDE capabilities that lead to the development of the next generation of MDE methods and tools. This project, Feature Oriented Modeling and Analysis, groups activities with involvement of the GSD Lab members within the NECSIS Theme 3: Uncertainty, Adaptability, and Variability.

Development of solutions for maintaining traceability among BPMN models from high-level business specifications to executable implementations, enabling impact analysis and generating fixing actions for concurrent editing.

We completed a consulting engagement with a company X entitled The Requirements Engineering Practices and Tool Support at X in which we identified top 10 challenges with the requirements engineering practices faced by X and presented a prioritized list of tool features desired by analysts, developers, and quality assurance. During the course of the study, we identified over 700 statements (codes) stated by over 40 participants of five focus groups and 18 interviews.

Our ICSE 2011 paper is available here.

An open-source release of our tool is upcoming. Stay tuned!

Support for software configuration is gaining importance. Large modern reusable software such as platforms or product lines often have a vast number of configuration settings that need to be specified in order to derive a running system. Examples of highly configurable systems include the Linux kernel, Eclipse, and eCos. They are supported by configuration tools, respectively, Linux Kconfig, Eclipse Yoxos, and eCos configuration tool. We have been studying the configuration models of these systems in a related project on "Feature Models in the Wild".

The aim of this project is to understand what problems the users face during configuration and provide corresponding support in the configuration tool. Our current focus is to understand and support conflict-resolution in Linux Kconfig and eCos configurator.

In our newest progress, we have introduced priorities to guide the error fixing process. The corresponding paper has been submitted for review, and a technical report has been published. If you are a reviewer of our paper, please see our technical report page for the pseduo code and the experiment results.