A Framework for Dynamic Evolution Based on Reflective Aspect-Oriented Software Architecture

An increasingly important requirement for software system is the capability to evolve dynamically at runtime according to the users´ requirements and computing environments. From the angle of software architecture, in this paper, a framework of supporting dynamic evolution based on reflective aspect-oriented software architecture-RAOSA is proposed and software architecture is reified as an explicit entity. Notably, the concept of aspect of AOP is introduced into the traditional software architecture and a core model of aspect-oriented software architecture is established. Evolution rules and strategies are formalized to support deduction of the system evolutionary behaviors; by using reflection mechanism, RAOSA, which is causal-connected to software specification and implementation, monitors the contextual information of runtime system to guide the evolution and update the software specification, ensuring system consistency and integrity. Furthermore, a simple application case illustrates the feasibility of proposed framework.