Methodologies for Agile Product Line Engineering: A Survey and Evaluation

Agile Product Line Engineering (APLE) is a relatively new approach which has emerged as the result of combining two successful approaches: Software Product Line Engineering and Agile Software Development. The goal of this combined approach is to cover the weaknesses of each of the two approaches while maximizing the advantages of both. Several methodologies exist which provide a practical process for applying APLE. In this paper, a select set of these methodologies are evaluated using a criteria-based approach, the results of which highlight each methodology's strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation framework and the results can be helpful in selecting, comparing, and modifying APLE methodologies; they can also be used for developing bespoke APLE methodologies, tailored to fit the specific needs of organizations and projects.