research-article

An analysis of the variability in forty preprocessor-based software product lines

Authors:

Christian Lengauer,

Christian Kästner,

Michael SchulzeAuthors Info & Claims

ICSE '10: Proceedings of the 32nd ACM/IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering - Volume 1

Pages 105 - 114

https://doi.org/10.1145/1806799.1806819

Published: 01 May 2010 Publication History

Abstract

Over 30 years ago, the preprocessor cpp was developed to extend the programming language C by lightweight metaprogramming capabilities. Despite its error-proneness and low abstraction level, the preprocessor is still widely used in present-day software projects to implement variable software. However, not much is known about how cpp is employed to implement variability. To address this issue, we have analyzed forty open-source software projects written in C. Specifically, we answer the following questions: How does program size influence variability? How complex are extensions made via cpp's variability mechanisms? At which level of granularity are extensions applied? Which types of extension occur? These questions revive earlier discussions on program comprehension and refactoring in the context of the preprocessor. To provide answers, we introduce several metrics measuring the variability, complexity, granularity, and types of extension applied by preprocessor directives. Based on the collected data, we suggest alternative implementation techniques. Our data set is a rich source for rethinking language design and tool support.

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Cited By

Oliveria de Souza LSantana de Almeida ESilveira Neto PBarr EPetke J(2024)Software Product Line Engineering via Software TransplantationACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/369598734:2(1-27)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3695987
Bittner PSchultheiß AMoosherr BYoung JTeixeira LWalkingshaw EAtaei PThüm T(2024)On the Expressive Power of Languages for Static VariabilityProceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages10.1145/36897478:OOPSLA2(1018-1050)Online publication date: 8-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3689747
Bittner PSchultheiß AMoosherr BKehrer TThüm Td'Amorim M(2024)Variability-Aware Differencing with DiffDetectiveCompanion Proceedings of the 32nd ACM International Conference on the Foundations of Software Engineering10.1145/3663529.3663813(632-636)Online publication date: 10-Jul-2024
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cover image ACM Conferences

ICSE '10: Proceedings of the 32nd ACM/IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering - Volume 1

May 2010

627 pages

ISBN:9781605587196

DOI:10.1145/1806799

General Chairs:
Jeff Kramer
Imperial College, London, UK
,
Judith Bishop
Microsoft Research, Redmond
,
Program Chairs:
Prem Devanbu
University of California at Davis
,
Sebastian Uchitel
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Imperial College London, UK

Copyright © 2010 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Published: 01 May 2010

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ICSE '10: 32nd International Conference on Software Engineering

May 1 - 8, 2010

Cape Town, South Africa

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Oliveria de Souza LSantana de Almeida ESilveira Neto PBarr EPetke J(2024)Software Product Line Engineering via Software TransplantationACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology10.1145/369598734:2(1-27)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3695987
Bittner PSchultheiß AMoosherr BYoung JTeixeira LWalkingshaw EAtaei PThüm T(2024)On the Expressive Power of Languages for Static VariabilityProceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages10.1145/36897478:OOPSLA2(1018-1050)Online publication date: 8-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3689747
Bittner PSchultheiß AMoosherr BKehrer TThüm Td'Amorim M(2024)Variability-Aware Differencing with DiffDetectiveCompanion Proceedings of the 32nd ACM International Conference on the Foundations of Software Engineering10.1145/3663529.3663813(632-636)Online publication date: 10-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3663529.3663813
Müller RWeiß MLochau M(2024)Mapping Cardinality-based Feature Models to Weighted Automata over Featured Multiset SemiringsProceedings of the 28th ACM International Systems and Software Product Line Conference10.1145/3646548.3676539(1-11)Online publication date: 2-Sep-2024
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Milano KCafeo B(2024)Navigating Expertise in Configurable Software Systems through the Maze of Variability2024 IEEE International Conference on Software Analysis, Evolution and Reengineering (SANER)10.1109/SANER60148.2024.00053(450-454)Online publication date: 12-Mar-2024
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Santos DSant`Anna CRibeiro M(2023)An Experiment on How Feature Dependent Variables Affect Configurable System ComprehensibilityProceedings of the 17th Brazilian Symposium on Software Components, Architectures, and Reuse10.1145/3622748.3622755(61-70)Online publication date: 25-Sep-2023
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Bittner PSchultheiß AGreiner SMoosherr BKrieter STinnes CKehrer TThüm T(2023)Views on Edits to Variational SoftwareProceedings of the 27th ACM International Systems and Software Product Line Conference - Volume A10.1145/3579027.3608985(141-152)Online publication date: 28-Aug-2023
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