Product Derivation in a Model-Driven Software Product Line using Decision Models

We present a mechanism to derivate products of Software Product Lines (SPLs) using decision models. Our approach to create SPLs is based on Model Driven Engineering principles. It uses metamodels and model transformation programs, which are sets of ordered model transformation rules, to obtain concrete software artifacts departing from an initial model. It uses also feature models to express the variability included in the SPLs. Because of the variability, to derivate product line members, we have to adapt the transformation programs according to user choices done on the feature models. The choices are gathered in configurations. Then, to derivate a product, we process a specific configuration and a decision model, which links variants, expressed as features, to model transformation rules. Thus, decision models enable the adaptation of the model transformation programs to derivate products including specific variants.