An Approach to Detect the Origin and Distribution of Software Defects in an Evolving Cyber-Physical System
Christian Manz, Michael Schulze, Manfred Reichert · 2014
Abstract. Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are usually developed by an incremental approach. A changing environment like demanding user re-quirements or legislation amendments lead often to multiple development paths in an evolving CPS. Hence, software variability plays an increas-ingly important role adapting the characteristics of such CPS to different contexts. This paper focuses on software variability realized through a Software Product Line (SPL) more specifically. Thereby, variability and evolution are usually managed in different tools. However with respect to software defects, a holistic handling of variability and evolution is necessary to ensure a reliable software defect removal. Particularly, de-tecting software defects in different evolution stages and derived vari-ants is ordinary, but complex and error-prone. To close the gap between variability and evolution, this paper presents a systematic approach to combine both disciplines. In particular, we apply existing variant man-agement techniques in combination with software configuration manage-ment methods to determine a software defect’s origin and distribution in an evolving SPL. We apply our approach to a CPS from the automotive domain to show its industrial relevance and usefulness.