A Contribution to the Specification of Model Transformations with Metamodel Matching Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karima Berramla ◽  
El Abbassia Deba ◽  
Abou El Hassen Benyamina ◽  
Djilali Benhamamouch
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Abstract Representation ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Transformation Language ◽  
Matching Technique ◽  
Concrete Syntax ◽  
Abstract Level ◽  
Use Of Models

Model-driven engineering (MDE) is a paradigm based on the intensive use of models throughout the life cycle of an application, where model transformation plays an important role. Various model transformation approaches have been proposed, but developers are still faced with the complexity of model transformation specifications. Most of these approaches are based on the specification of transformation rules with a concrete syntax at a low level where the developer must master the transformation language. The question at this level is how to generate a model transformation specification that must be at a very abstract level, independent of any transformation language. This article aims to propose an approach to generate an abstract representation of transformation rules and these are used to produce a source code written in a chosen transformation language. The transformation rules are calculated semi-automatically by using a matching technique on elements of source and target metamodels. This idea is illustrated by different transformation examples.

scholarly journals Contrasting dedicated model transformation languages versus general purpose languages: a historical perspective on ATL versus Java based on complexity and size

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Höppner ◽  
Timo Kehrer ◽  
Matthias Tichy
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Model Driven Engineering ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Language ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Code Changes

AbstractModel transformations are among the key concepts of model-driven engineering (MDE), and dedicated model transformation languages (MTLs) emerged with the popularity of the MDE pssaradigm about 15 to 20 years ago. MTLs claim to increase the ease of development of model transformations by abstracting from recurring transformation aspects and hiding complex semantics behind a simple and intuitive syntax. Nonetheless, MTLs are rarely adopted in practice, there is still no empirical evidence for the claim of easier development, and the argument of abstraction deserves a fresh look in the light of modern general purpose languages (GPLs) which have undergone a significant evolution in the last two decades. In this paper, we report about a study in which we compare the complexity and size of model transformations written in three different languages, namely (i) the Atlas Transformation Language (ATL), (ii) Java SE5 (2004–2009), and (iii) Java SE14 (2020); the Java transformations are derived from an ATL specification using a translation schema we developed for our study. In a nutshell, we found that some of the new features in Java SE14 compared to Java SE5 help to significantly reduce the complexity of transformations written in Java by as much as 45%. At the same time, however, the relative amount of complexity that stems from aspects that ATL can hide from the developer, which is about 40% of the total complexity, stays about the same. Furthermore we discovered that while transformation code in Java SE14 requires up to 25% less lines of code, the number of words written in both versions stays about the same. And while the written number of words stays about the same their distribution throughout the code changes significantly. Based on these results, we discuss the concrete advancements in newer Java versions. We also discuss to which extent new language advancements justify writing transformations in a general purpose language rather than a dedicated transformation language. We further indicate potential avenues for future research on the comparison of MTLs and GPLs in a model transformation context.

scholarly journals Model transformations to bridge concrete and abstract syntax of web rule languages

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Milanovic ◽  
Dragan Gasevic ◽  
Adrian Giurca ◽  
Gerd Wagner ◽  
Sergey Lukichev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Good Practice ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Abstract Syntax ◽  
Object Constraint Language ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Language ◽  
Rule Languages ◽  
Constraint Language ◽  
Concrete Syntax ◽  
Model Transformation Language

This paper presents a solution to bridging the abstract and concrete syntax of a Web rule languages by using model transformations. Current specifications of Web rule languages such as Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) or RuleML define their abstract syntax (e.g., metamodel) and concrete syntax (e.g., XML schema) separately. Although the recent research in the area of Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) demonstrates that such a separation of two types of syntax is a good practice (due to the complexity of languages), one should also have tools that check validity of rules written in a concrete syntax with respect to the abstract syntax of the rule language. In this study, we use the REWERSE I1 Rule Markup Language (R2ML), SWRL, and Object Constraint Language (OCL), whose abstract syntax is defined by using metamodeling, while their textual concrete syntax is defined by using either XML/RDF schema or Extended Backus-Naur Form (EBNF) syntax. We bridge this gap by a bi-directional transformation defined in a model transformation language (ATLAS Transformation Language, ATL). This transformation allowed us to discover a number of issues in both web rule language metamodels and their corresponding concrete syntax, and thus make them fully compatible. This solution also enables for sharing web rules between different web rule languages.

A Rigouous Framework for Model-Driven Development

2010 ◽  
pp. 253-276
Author(s):  
Liliana María Favre
Keyword(s):  
Formal Languages ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Model Driven Development ◽  
Reusable Components ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Rigorous Framework ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Independent Model

The model-driven architecture (MDA) is an approach to model-centric software development. The concepts of models, metamodels, and model transformations are at the core of MDA. Model-driven development (MDD) distinguishes different kinds of models: the computation-independent model (CIM), the platform-independent model (PIM), and the platform-specific model (PSM). Model transformation is the process of converting one model into another model of the same system, preserving some kind of equivalence relation between them. One of the key concepts behind MDD is that models generated during software developments are represented using common metamodeling techniques. In this chapter, we analyze an integration of MDA metamodeling techniques with knowledge developed by the community of formal methods. We describe a rigorous framework that comprises the NEREUS metamodeling notation (open to many other formal languages), a system of transformation rules to bridge the gap between UML/OCL and NEREUS, the definition of MDA-based reusable components, and model/metamodeling transformations. In particular, we show how to integrate NEREUS with algebraic languages using the Common Algebraic Specification Language (CASL). NEREUS focuses on interoperability of formal languages in MDD.

A Rigorous Framework for Model-Driven Development

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Favre
Keyword(s):  
Formal Languages ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Model Driven Development ◽  
Reusable Components ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Rigorous Framework ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Independent Model

The model-driven architecture (MDA) is an approach to model-centric software development. The concepts of models, metamodels, and model transformations are at the core of MDA. Model-driven development (MDD) distinguishes different kinds of models: the computation-independent model (CIM), the platform-independent model (PIM), and the platform-specific model (PSM). Model transformation is the process of converting one model into another model of the same system, preserving some kind of equivalence relation between them. One of the key concepts behind MDD is that models generated during software developments are represented using common metamodeling techniques. In this chapter, we analyze an integration of MDA metamodeling techniques with knowledge developed by the community of formal methods. We describe a rigorous framework that comprises the NEREUS metamodeling notation (open to many other formal languages), a system of transformation rules to bridge the gap between UML/OCL and NEREUS, the definition of MDA-based reusable components, and model/metamodeling transformations. In particular, we show how to integrate NEREUS withalgebraic languages using the Common Algebraic Specification Language (CASL). NEREUS focuses on interoperability of formal languages in MDD.

scholarly journals Incremental execution of rule-based model transformation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Boronat
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
Propagation Mechanism ◽  
Change Propagation ◽  
Computational Costs ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Domain Models ◽  
Event Based

Abstract When model transformations are used to implement consistency relations between very large models, incrementality plays a cornerstone role in detecting and resolving inconsistencies efficiently when models are updated. Given a directed consistency relation between two models, the problem studied in this work consists in propagating model changes from a source model to a target model in order to ensure consistency while minimizing computational costs. The mechanism that enforces such consistency is called consistency maintainer and, in this context, its scalability is a required non-functional requirement. State-of-the-art model transformation engines with support for incrementality normally rely on an observer pattern for linking model changes, also known as deltas, to the application of model transformation rules, in so-called dependencies, at run time. These model changes can then be propagated along an already executed model transformation. Only a few approaches to model transformation provide domain-specific languages for representing and storing model changes in order to enable their use in asynchronous, event-based execution environments. The principal contribution of this work is the design of a forward change propagation mechanism for incremental execution of model transformations, which decouples dependency tracking from change propagation using two innovations. First, the observer pattern-based model is replaced with dependency injection, decoupling domain models from consistency maintainers. Second, a standardized representation of model changes is reused, enabling interoperability with EMF-compliant tools, both for defining model changes and for processing them asynchronously. This procedure has been implemented in a model transformation engine, whose performance has been evaluated experimentally using the VIATRA CPS benchmark. In the experiments performed, the new transformation engine shows gains in the form of several orders of magnitude in the initial phase of the incremental execution of the benchmark model transformation and change propagation is performed in real time for those model sizes that are processable by other tools and, in addition, is able to process much larger models.

AOP's Modeling Research and Model Transformation with ATL in MDA

2011 ◽  
Vol 291-294 ◽  
pp. 97-100
Author(s):  
Jing Jun Zhang ◽  
Fei Wei ◽  
Hui Li
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Model Driven Architecture ◽  
Aspect Oriented Programming ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Language ◽  
Model Conversion

With Aspect Oriented Programming(AOP) technology, Model Driven Architecture(MDA) and ATLAS Transformation Language(ATL), this paper proposes a PIM framework of based on OOP and a PIM framework of based on AOP, also proposes a idea with ATL accept model conversion signals to model transformation.

Quality-Driven Model Transformations

2009 ◽  
pp. 302-326
Author(s):  
Silvia Abrahão ◽  
Marcela Genero ◽  
Emilio Insfran ◽  
José Ángel Carsí ◽  
Isidro Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Model ◽  
Model Transformations ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Uml Class Diagram ◽  
Class Diagrams ◽  
Quality Transformation ◽  
Transformation Processes ◽  
Use Of Models ◽  
Selection Of

Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) is a software engineering approach that promotes the use of models and model transformations as primary development artifacts. Usually; there are several ways to transform a source model into a target model. Alternative target models may have the same functionality but may differ in their quality attributes (e.g.; understandability; modifiability). This chapter presents an approach to deal with quality-driven model transformations. Specifically; it focuses on a specific set of transformations to obtain UML class diagrams from a Requirements Model. A set of alternative transformations are identified; and the selection of the best alternative is done through a controlled experiment. The goal of the experiment is to empirically validate which alternative transformation produces the UML class diagram that is the easiest to understand. This evidence can be further used to define high-quality transformation processes; as it will be based on empirical knowledge rather than on common wisdom and the intuition of the researchers and developers.

Evolution in Model-Driven Software Product-Line Architectures

2009 ◽  
pp. 1280-1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gan Deng ◽  
Jeff Gray ◽  
Douglas C. Schmidt ◽  
Yuehua Lin ◽  
Aniruddha Gokhale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Software Product Line ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Domain Model ◽  
Modeling Language ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Domain Evolution ◽  
Software Product

This chapter describes our approach to modeldriven engineering (MDE)-based product line architectures (PLAs) and presents a solution to address the domain evolution problem. We use a case study of a representative software-intensive system from the distributed real-time embedded (DRE) systems domain to describe key challenges when facing domain evolution and how we can evolve PLAs systematically and minimize human intervention. The approach uses a mature metamodeling tool to define a modeling language in the representative DRE domain, and applies a model transformation tool to specify model-tomodel transformation rules that precisely define metamodel and domain model changes. Our approach automates many tedious, time consuming, and error-prone tasks of model-to-model transformation, thus significantly reducing the complexity of PLA evolution.

Evolution in Model-Driven Software Product-Line Architectures

2009 ◽  
pp. 102-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gan Deng ◽  
Douglas C. Schmidt ◽  
Aniruddha Gokhale ◽  
Jeff Gray ◽  
Yuehua Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Transformation ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Domain Model ◽  
Modeling Language ◽  
Model Driven Engineering ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
Transformation Rules ◽  
Domain Evolution ◽  
Software Product

This chapter describes our approach to model-driven engineering (MDE)-based product line architectures (PLAs) and presents a solution to address the domain evolution problem. We use a case study of a representative software-intensive system from the distributed real-time embedded (DRE) systems domain to describe key challenges when facing domain evolution and how we can evolve PLAs systematically and minimize human intervention. The approach uses a mature metamodeling tool to define a modeling language in the representative DRE domain, and applies a model transformation tool to specify modelto- model transformation rules that precisely define metamodel and domain model changes. Our approach automates many tedious, time consuming, and error-prone tasks of model-to-model transformation, thus significantly reducing the complexity of PLA evolution.

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