Feature-based product line instantiation using source-level packages

In this paper we discuss the construction of software products from customer-specific feature selections. We address variability management with the Feature Description Language (FDL) to capture variation points of product line architectures. We describe feature packaging which covers selecting and packaging implementation components according to feature selections using the autobundle tool. Finally, we discuss a generic approach, based on the abstract factory design pattern, to make instantiated (customer-specific) variability accessible in applications. The solutions and techniques presented in this paper are based on our experience with the product line architecture of the commercial documentation generator DocGen.