1. Magne Syrstad’s PhD-status

2. Personal background
Previous work on architecture and product families at Sintef
The Familier project working on these issues.

3. Software Product Families
In focus since the late 1990s
First workshop in Europe 1996, in the US 1997
First conference in 2000
Two main driving forces.
The Software Engineering Institute
The European Esaps/Cafe/Families projects
By main European industrial partners.

4. Software Product Families (2)
Challenges
Integration – how to make it work
Architecture – how to obtain variability
Little or no empirical research
What works and what doesn’t?
Different approaches to integration and architecture
Effects of implementing a product family
Is maintenance really easier?

5. Empirical Opportunities (AKVAsmart)
Small Trondheim based company
Started in the early 1990s
Now re-implementing application as a product line
Access to historical maintenance data
And availability of data for the same functionality on the new product family from 2005/6?

6. Empirical Opportunities: DNV Software
Large existing product line
Moving from DCom to .Net
Opportunity to observe as existing products are integrated into the product line
Experiences with the reengineering from the product-owner’s point of view
But product that have moved, that will move, and that are currently moving

7. Empirical Opportunities - Comparisons
Compare different approaches when it comes to
Architectural approaches – how to handle variability
Integration tactics
Proactive vs. reactive
Reengineering existing assets or not.

8. Plans Next 6 months Try to get started with AKVAsmart and DNV Software
Write a paper on ATAM experiences with former colleagues at Sintef
Continue with state of the art
Make an attempt at a simple experiment in the architecture course
Continue participation in Familier and Families projects