Exploring Functionality and Efficiency of Feature Model Product Configuration Solutions

Variability-intensive systems are software systems in which variability management is a core activity. Examples of variability-intensive systems are the web content management system Drupal, the Linux kernel, and the Linux Debian distributions. Feature models have been considered valuable tools for modeling variability-intensive systems for more than 30 years, and their automated analysis is a thriving, motivating, and active research area. In 2010, Benavides et al. published the survey results of the first 20 years of Automated Analysis of Feature Model AAFM solutions. At that time, mainly sequential computing solutions exist. The product configuration of feature models represents a relevant operation demanding efficient automated solutions, which are now possible for assisting the feature model product configuration, such as minimal conflict detection, diagnosis, and product completion. The two main goals of this article are the following: First, to review the fundaments of product configuration of feature models. Second, to assess the functionality and computing performance of commonly used AAFM solutions for minimal conflict detection, minimal diagnosis, and the minimal completion of partial product configuration and the approaches. This article summarizes research opportunities for developing new and more efficient solutions for conflict detection, diagnosis, and product completion of large-scale configurations.