Modeling Variability by UML Use Case Diagrams
Horst Lichter · 2002
Software Product Lines are characterized through common and variable parts. Modeling variability is one of the most important tasks during the analysis phase. In order to guarantee that domain experts and developers understand each other variability has to be modeled explicitly. In this paper we present and examine the different types of variability. We analyze and assess UML Use Case diagrams in detail with respect to their capability to express variability, with the result, that they only provide poor assistance. Consequently we introduce an enhancement of the Use Case meta-model to overcome this deficiency by integrating new modeling elements that allow to express the identified types of variability.