Software Architect's Handbook

Software product lines

Growing competitive pressures combined with the complexity of developing software systems makes it a necessity for organizations to increase efficiencies wherever possible. One way to accomplish this is to create software product lines. A variety of industries, including the software industry, have used product line engineering (PLE) successfully.

Product lines are multiple products from a single company that address a particular need or market. These products could be sold under the same brand, with the idea that customers who use one product from the brand are more likely to purchase another product from the same brand.

Organizations that develop software may have multiple existing software products and/or other software ...