Evaluating the Cognitive Effectiveness of the Visual Syntax of Feature Diagrams

Abstract

[Context and Motivation] Feature models are widely used in the Software Product Line (SPL) domain to capture and communicate the commonality and variability of features in a product line. Feature models contain feature diagrams that graphically depict features in a hierarchical form. [Problem/Question] Many research works have been devoted to enriching the visual syntax of feature diagrams to extend its expressiveness to capture additional types of semantics, however, there is a lack of research that evaluates the visual perception of feature models by its readers. Models serve a dual purpose: to brainstorm and communicate. A very sophisticated yet unreadable model is arguably useless. To date, there has not been a scientific evaluation of the cognitive effectiveness of the visual syntax of feature diagrams. [Principle Ideas] This paper presents a scientific evaluation of the cognitive effectiveness of feature diagrams. The evaluation approach is based on theory and empirical evidence mainly from the cognitive science field. [Contribution] The evaluation reveals drawbacks in the visual notation of feature diagrams. The paper concludes with some recommendations for improvement to remedy the identified flaws.