In-depth characterization of exception flows in software product lines: an empirical study

Authors

  • Hugo Melo Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
  • Roberta Coelho Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
  • Uirá Kulesza Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
  • Demostenes Sena Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Keywords:

Software product line, Exception handling, Static analysis, Code inspection

Abstract

Software Product Lines (SPLs) play an essential role in contemporary software development, improving program quality and reducing the time to market. However, despite its importance, several questions concerning SPL dependability did not get enough attention yet, such as: how the exception handling code has been implemented in SPLs? The characteristics of the exception handling code may lead to faulty SPL products? The Exception Handling (EH) is a widely used mechanism for building robust systems and is embedded in most of mainstream programming languages. In SPL context we can find exception signalers and handlers spread over code assets associated to common and variable SPL features. If exception signalers and handlers are added to a SPL in an unplanned way, products can be generated on which variable features may signal exceptions that remain uncaught or are mistakenly caught by common features or other variable features. This paper describes an empirical study that categorizes the possible ways exceptions flow through SPL features and investigates whether some of their characteristics can lead to faulty exception handling behavior. The study outcomes presented in this paper are helpful in several ways, such as: (i) enhancing the general understanding of how exceptions flow through mandatory and variable features; (ii) providing information about the potential problems related to specific kinds of flows detected in this study; and (iii) presenting how a static analysis tool can be used to support the identification of potentially faulty exception handling flows.

 

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Published

2013-10-29

How to Cite

Melo, H., Coelho, R., Kulesza, U., & Sena, D. (2013). In-depth characterization of exception flows in software product lines: an empirical study. Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development, 1, 3:1 – 3:30. Retrieved from https://journals-sol.sbc.org.br/index.php/jserd/article/view/12

Issue

Section

Research Article