The software product line strategy has enabled many organizations to improve productivity, reduce time-to-market, and address both mass- and niche markets. A successful product line organization achieves strategic levels of architectural reuse.

The topics in this book cover research related to the most important practices in a product line organization. The contributions provide experience-based knowledge about the domain and application engineering, the modeling and management of variability, and the design and use of tools to support the management of product line related knowledge. Käkölä and Dueñas have grouped them into five parts corresponding to the main areas of software product line engineering: product line management, product line requirements engineering, product line architecture, product line testing, and specific product line engineering issues. They ensured maximum coherence and cross-referencing throughout the book, imposing a common terminology and carefully integrating all chapters. The result is a valuable and enduring resource for researchers in both industry and academia who will also find many pointers for future research and implementation strategies. In addition, systems and software professionals, and technology managers aspiring to fully leverage the product line strategy will also benefit from many pertinent development details.

"This volume is a valuable resource for researchers wishing to move the product line strategy forward and for those charged with translating state-of-the-art ideas into state-of-the-practice processes and activities."

From the Foreword by John D. McGregor, Clemson University, USA