Engineering self-adaptive systems through feedback loops

Brun, Y; Di, Marzo, Serugendo, G; Gacek, C; Giese, H; Kienle, H; Litoiu, M; Müller, H; Pezzè, M; Shaw, M

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-02161-9_3

Engineering self-adaptive systems through feedback loops

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Abstract

To deal with the increasing complexity of software systems and uncertainty of their environments, software engineers have turned to self-adaptivity. Self-adaptive systems are capable of dealing with a continuously changing environment and emerging requirements that may be unknown at design-time. However, building such systems cost-effectively and in a predictable manner is a major engineering challenge. In this paper, we explore the state-of-the-art in engineering self-adaptive systems and identify potential improvements in the design process. Our most important finding is that in designing self-adaptive systems, the feedback loops that control self-adaptation must become first-class entities. We explore feedback loops from the perspective of control engineering and within existing self-adaptive systems in nature and biology. Finally, we identify the critical challenges our community must address to enable systematic and well-organized engineering of self-adaptive and self-managing software systems. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.