Resolving feature dependency implementations inconsistencies during product derivation

Features implementing the functionality in a software product line (SPL) often interact and depend on each other. It is hard to maintain the consistency between feature dependencies on the model level and the actual implementation over time, resulting in inconsistency during product derivation. We describe our initial results when working with feature dependency implementations and the related inconsistencies in actual code. Our aim is to improve consistency checking during product derivation. We have provided tool support for maintaining consistency between feature dependency implementations on both model and code levels in a product line. The tool chain supports the consistency checking on both the domain engineering and the application levels between actual code and models. We report our experience of managing feature dependency consistency in the context of an existing scientific calculator product line.