Authors:
Noureddine Gasmallah
1
;
Abdelkrim Amirat
2
and
Mourad Oussalah
3
Affiliations:
1
University of Annaba, University of Souk-Ahras and University of Nantes, Algeria
;
2
University of Souk-Ahras, Algeria
;
3
University of Nantes, France
Keyword(s):
Software Architecture, Software Evolution, Evolution Taxonomy, Quality Criteria.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Service-Oriented Software Engineering and Management
;
Software Change and Configuration Management
;
Software Engineering
Abstract:
Nowadays, architects are facing the challenge of proliferation of stakeholder requirements for preserving and
ensuring the effectiveness of the software, by using software evolution as a key solution. Hence, in terms
of landscaping evolution space there is a great need to define the thinking on which efforts to deal with this
issue have been based. In this paper, we propose a framework for software architecture evolution taxonomy
based on four structural dimensions. This framework could both position existing evolution models in the
field and highlight gray areas for the future. Mapping over framework dimensions, a set of quality factors and
an investigation including 67 studies are performed to assess the proposals. The results contain a number of
relevant findings, including the need to improve software architecture evolution by accommodating predictable
changes as well as promoting the emergence of operating mechanisms.