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A framework for classifying and comparing architecture-centric software evolution research

Jamshidi, Pooyan, Ghafari, Mohammad, Aakash, Ahmad and Pahl, Claus orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-9049-212X (2013) A framework for classifying and comparing architecture-centric software evolution research. In: 17th European Conference on Software Maintenance and Reengineering, 5-8 Mar 2013, Genova, Italy.

Abstract
Architecture-centric software evolution (ACSE) supports frequent business and technical change cycles in software at higher abstraction levels. This requires evolution in system structure and behavior that could be modeled, analyzed and evolved in a formal way. Existing research and practices comprises a wide spectrum of evolution-centric research in terms of processes, frameworks and empirical studies to tackle ACSE. However, there is no unified framework providing systematic insight into classification and comparison for state-of-the-art in ACSE research. We present a taxonomic scheme that provides a basis for an extensive classification and comparison of existing ACSE research approaches - leading to a reflection on areas of future research. Our search covers 8 major research databases, resulting in 4138 papers searched and 60 peer-reviewed papers considered for data collection. We then performed a systematic mapping based on a quantitative and qualitative extraction of the included studies to the scheme comprising 27 data points. Based on the available evidence, we have identified five main classification categories: (i) type of evolution, (ii) type of specification, (iii) type of architectural constraints, (iv) runtime issues, and (v) tool support. The selected studies are mapped to the taxonomic framework comprising qualitative and quantitative elements. The classification scheme provides a critical view of different aspects to be considered when addressing specific ACSE problems. Besides, the comparison of existing ACSE research reflects on the needs for future research dimensions.
Metadata
Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Event Type:Conference
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Architecture-centric Software Evolution; Evidence-based and Empirical Study in Software Evolution; Research Synthesis
Subjects:Computer Science > Software engineering
DCU Faculties and Centres:Research Initiatives and Centres > Lero: The Irish Software Engineering Research Centre
DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Engineering and Computing > School of Computing
Publisher:IEEE
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:17664
Deposited On:06 Mar 2013 14:01 by Claus Pahl . Last Modified 21 Jan 2021 17:15
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