To quote the authors of chapter 3, “[graphical user interface, GUI] design remains an open, wicked, complex and multifaceted problem, owing to ever increasing variability to design options resulting from multiple contexts of use, i.e, various end-users, heterogeneous devices and computing platforms, as well as their varying environments.” In this edited book, each chapter provides a unique approach to addressing this variability in interface design, and each takes a different application and walks the reader through its approach and scope in addressing the sources of variability under consideration.

Chapter 1, “Engineering Configuration Graphical User Interfaces from Variability Models,” focuses on feature models to address GUI configuration options. The authors present a model-view-presenter (MVP) architecture, which is used to design configurators: “[MVP] separates concerns between a feature model, its associated solver, and the presentation of the GUI.” MVP is derived from Reenskaug’s model-view-controller (MVC). Much of this chapter focuses on going from feature models to MVP configurators. The authors illustrate the approach with an Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) configurator.

Chapter 2, “User Interfaces and Dynamic Software Product Lines,” focuses on a second approach, dynamic software product lines (DSPLs), to address GUI variability across platforms. Derived from software product lines (SPL), which lack runtime adaptations, DSPLs allow for runtime adaptations and configuration. However, historically, DSPLs have largely ignored GUI development and management. This chapter presents an approach that uses DSPLs to manage GUI variability. The authors use the Google Play app and provide an excellent discussion on the sources of variability and how DSPL can accommodate such.

In chapter 3, “Variability Management and Assessment for User Interface Design,” the authors propose a GUI rapid prototyping process. Underlying the prototyping process, the authors introduce a combination of model-driven engineering, SPLs, and interactive genetic algorithms. Each component is well described and additional background on feature modeling and SPL configuration is provided. A contact list case study is also included.

In chapter 4, “Feature-Based Elicitation of Cognitively Efficient Visualizations for SPL Configurations,” the authors offer a process based on the “theories of the visualization community for data representation ... and best practices from semiology and visual languages.” SPL configurators supported by feature models and FAMILIAR form the basis of their approach within the SPL framework. The authors apply a graph product line (GPL) to the various development activities presented in the chapter.

Chapter 5, “Addressing Context-Awareness in User Interface Software Product Lines (UI-SPL) Approaches,” introduces SPL engineering (SPLE) in the context of DSPL. This chapter presents an overview of ”UI-DSPL approaches which specifically focus on context-aware adaptation of user interfaces.” UI-SPL approaches, context awareness in UI-SPL approaches, and reference schemas are discussed. A restaurant case study is illustrated.

This book is for established designers or folks with good technical skills and an interest in GUI design across large product lines. The chapters are well illustrated and each one has an abundant bibliography. The chapters very much follow a textbook format (sans exercises) and are largely instructional in their presentations.