FlexiPLE: a tool for flexible binding times in annotated model-based SPLs

Annotative approaches are commonly used to specify variation points in a Model-based software product line (MBSPL) implementation. Variant-specific parts are marked using annotated presence conditions in a so-called 150% model. Such approaches lead to a static feature selection (or binding), which is appropriate, i.e., for platform-specific features. However, dynamic binding, i.e. feature selection at run time, is a necessity in many (industrial) contexts. We present our tool FlexiPLE which allows for a feature-wise binding time selection, even after a MBSPL implementation. To this end, our tool a) supports the definition of binding time constraints, b) aids the user in the adaption process based upon variability analysis and c) ensures that only valid feature combinations can be selected statically and dynamically by incorporating a staged configuration approach. Our tool builds upon a robust stack of state-of-the-art technologies and tools in the context of MBSPLs.