Cascaded refactoring for framework development and evolution

This thesis addresses three problems of framework development and evolution: identification and realization of variability, framework evolution, and framework documentation. A solution, called the cascaded refactoring methodology, is proposed. The methodology is validated by a case study, the Know-It-All framework for relational Database Management Systems. The cascaded refactoring methodology views framework development as framework evolution, which consists of framework refactoring followed by framework extension. A framework is specified by a set of models: feature model, use case model, architectural model, design model, and source code. Framework refactoring is achieved by a set of refactorings cascaded from the feature model, to use case model, architectural model, design model, and source code. The constraints of refactorings on a model are derived from the refactorings performed on its previous model. Alignment maps are defined to maintain the traceability amongst the models. The thesis broadens the refactoring concept from the design and source code level to include the feature model, use case model, and architectural model. Metamodels and refactorings are defined for the feature model and architectural model. A document template is proposed to document the framework refactorin