Design Space of Heterogeneous Synchronization

This tutorial explores the design space of heterogeneous
synchronization, which is concerned with establishing consistency
among artifacts that conform to di?erent schemas or are expressed in
different languages. Our main application scenario is synchronization
of software artifacts, such as code, models, and configuration files.
We classify heterogeneous synchronizers according to the cardinality
of the relation that they enforce between artifacts, their
directionality, their incrementality, and whether they support
reconciliation of concurrent updates. We then provide a framework of
artifact operators that describes different ways of building
heterogeneous synchronizers, such as synchronizers based on artifact
or update translation. The design decisions within the framework are
described using feature models. We present 16 concrete instances of
the framework, discuss tradeoffs among them, and identify sample
implementations for some of them. We also explore additional design
decisions such as representation of updates, establishing
correspondence among model elements, and strategies for selecting a
single synchronization result from a set of alternatives. Finally, we
discuss related fields including data synchronization, inconsistency
management in software engineering, model management, and model
transformation.