IVAR: A Conceptual Framework for Dependency Management
Gustavo A. Oliva, Marco Aurélio Gerosa · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 2012
Abstract. The design of software systems tend to degrade throughout time. Changes in code end up introducing new and unplanned dependencies among modules, causing the elegance of the design to be slowly lost in the form of structural patches and violations of previously established architectural rules. In this study, we propose a conceptual framework for dependency management. Our aim is to conceive a framework that adequately represents and organizes the core concepts of dependency management. The framework revolves around four main concepts, namely: identification, visualization, analysis, and restructuring of dependencies. In a long-term perspective, we envision that a systematization of the field will provide a solid ground for the development of more effective dependency management methods and tools. 1.