Pitfalls in unanticipated dynamic software evolution
Peter Ebraert, Theo D’Hondt, Yves Vandewoude, Yolande Berbers · 2005
The authors of this paper have all developed a framework that allows runtime adaptation of software systems. Based on our experiences, we wish to summarize common pitfalls concerning dynamic software evolution. Systems for dynamic adaptation typically follow a certain process which is used as a starting point in this paper. The problems that occur in the different steps of this evolution process are given and a suggestion is made on how these problems can be tackled. The reader will notice that the solution to most of the pitfalls lies in the use of reflection, meta-data and meta-object protocols. We conclude that reflection or meta-object protocol manipulations are indispensable in the process of dynamic software evolution and that better language support is needed.