FCM: a component-based platform with explicit support of crosscutting and dynamic features

Abstract

Dealing with crosscutting and dynamic features in component software is a longstanding problem primarily due to the nature of used components: components may be available only as black box software units and their implementations may be protected against alteration. Aspect-orientation provides a valuable means to deal with crosscutting features in different paradigms. Unfortunately, existing endeavours to integrate aspects into component software have several limitations such as the lack of suitable design of aspects and the absence of proper aspect runtime weaving mechanisms. This paper proposes a new component platform to tackle these limitations. In the proposed platform, components and aspects are first-class entities that remain separated from design to implementation. In addition, aspects can be added and removed at runtime. We developed a tool support for the platform in Java. The viability of our proposal is validated through the development of an Airport Wireless Access as a case study.