Open AccessComposite pattern to handle variation points in software architectural design of evolving application systems
Author(s) -
Philip Milu Mary,
Natarajan Karthik,
Ramanathan Anithkumar,
Balakrishnan Vijayakumar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
iet software
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1751-8814
DOI - 10.1049/iet-sen.2019.0006
Subject(s) - architectural pattern , computer science , software , component (thermodynamics) , architectural style , component based software engineering , architectural geometry , software architecture , software development , flexibility (engineering) , software system , software engineering , computer architecture , architecture , software design , real time computing , software construction , programming language , art , statistics , physics , mathematics , visual arts , thermodynamics
The variation points in software architecture arise as a result of the availability of large number of filters and component libraries. An integration of different architectural styles is crucial and necessary in the development of large‐scale software application systems to handle the variation points. This article proposes a composite software architectural style for building application systems involving data streams, user interactivity, and dynamic mode. It uses a pattern within a pattern approach for combining the architectural styles. This approach provides flexibility to add or delete any filter or component at run time. In addition, the changes in the order of processing of the different filters or components can also be incorporated. The software architectural specification for any combination of input components and their order of processing is generated automatically. This specification acts as a baseline for the subsequent design and implementation phases of the application system. This model is generic and has been successfully validated for a prototype application system involving all the three modes of operation.