Feature Descriptions for Context-oriented Programming

In Context-oriented Programming (COP), programs can be partitioned into behavioral variations expressed as sets of partial program definitions. Such layers can be activated and deactivated at runtime, depending on the execution context. In previous work, we identified the need for application-specific dependencies between layers, and suggested an efficient reflective interface for controlling such dependencies. However, that solution requires knowledge about complex low-level details of a particular COP implementation, which can be hard to master. In this paper, we show how feature diagrams can be naturally mapped onto COP by integrating the Feature Description Language. Since this mapping ensures that feature dependencies are automatically enforced, programmers can focus on declarative descriptions of layer dependencies without the need to resort to low-level details.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: SPLC
• Authors: Pascal Costanza, Theo D'Hondt
• Keywords: Application-specific Dependencies, Low-level Details, Particular Cop Implementation, Software Engineering, SPLC 2008