Classifying variability modeling techniques

Variability modeling is important for managing variability in software product families, especially during product derivation. In the past few years, several variability modeling techniques have been developed, each using its own concepts to model the variability provided by a product family. The publications regarding these techniques were written from diVerent viewpoints, use diVerent examples, and rely on a diVerent technical background. This paper sheds light on the similarities and diVerences between six variability modeling techniques, by exemplifying the techniques with one running example, and classifying them using a framework of key characteristics for variability modeling. It furthermore discusses the relation between diVerences among those techniques, and the scope, size, and application domain of product families. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.