The intensive use of models in ModelDriven Engineering (MDE) raises the need to develop meta-models with different aims, like the construction of textual and visual modelling languages and the specification of source and target ends of model-to-model transformations. While domain experts have the knowledge about the concepts of the domain, they usually lack the skills to build meta-models. Moreover, meta-models typically need to be tailored according to their future usage and specific implementation platform, which demands knowledge available only to engineers with great expertise in specific MDE platforms. These issues hinder a wider adoption of MDE both by domain experts and software engineers.In order to alleviate this situation, we propose an interactive, iterative approach to meta-model construction enabling the specification of example model fragments by domain experts, with the possibility of using informal drawing tools like Dia or yED. These fragments can be annotated with hints about the intention or needs for certain elements. A meta-model is then automatically induced, which can be refactored in an interactive way, and then compiled into an implementation metamodel using profiles and patterns for different platforms and purposes. Our approach includes the use of a virtual assistant, which provides suggestions for improving the meta-model based on well-known refactorings, and a validation mode, enabling the validation of the meta-model by means of examples.

El acceso a la versión del editor puede requerir la suscripción del recurso Access to the published version may require subscription Abstract. Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs) are highlevel languages specially designed to perform tasks in a particular domain. When developing DSMLs, the participation of end-users is normally limited to providing domain knowledge and testing the resulting language prototypes. Language developers, which are perhaps not domain experts, are therefore in control of the language development and evolution. This may cause misinterpretations which hamper the development process and the quality of the DSML. Thus, it would be beneficial to promote a more active participation of end-users in the development process of DSMLs. While current DSML workbenches are mono-user and designed for technical experts, we present a process and tool support for the example-driven, collaborative construction of DSMLs in order to engage end-users in the creation of their own languages.

Meta-models play a cornerstone role in Model-Driven Engineering as they are used to define the abstract syntax of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages, and so models and all sorts of model transformations depend on them. However, there are scarce tools and methods supporting their validation and verification, which are essential activities for the proper engineering of meta-models.In this paper we present an Eclipse-based tool that aims to fill this gap by providing two complementary meta-model testing languages. The first one has similar philosophy to the xUnit framework, enabling the definition of meta-model unit test suites comprising model fragments and assertions on their (in-)correctness. The second one is directed to verify expected properties of the meta-model, including domain and design properties, quality criteria and platform-specific requirements. Both tools are integrated within a framework for example-based, incremental meta-model development.

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Information Systems. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Information Systems, VOL 62, (2016)] DOI 10.1016/j.is.2016.06.008Meta-models play a cornerstone role in Model-Driven Engineering as they are used to define the abstract syntax of modelling languages, and so models and all sorts of model transformations depend on them. However, there are scarce tools and methods supporting their Validation and Verification (V&V), which are essential activities for the proper engineering of meta-models. In order to fill this gap, we propose two complementary meta-model V&V languages. The first one has similar philosophy to the xUnit framework, as it enables the definition of meta-model unit test suites comprising model fragments and assertions on their (in-)correctness. The second one is directed to express and verify expected properties of a meta-model, including domain and design properties, quality criteria and platform-specific requirements. As a proof of concept, we have developed tooling for both languages in the Eclipse platform, and illustrate its use within an example-driven approach for meta-model construction. The expressiveness of our languages is demonstrated by their application to build a library of meta-model quality issues, which has been evaluated over the ATL zoo of meta-models and some OMG specifications. The results show that integrated support for meta-model V&V (as the one we propose here) is urgently needed in meta-modelling environments.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity with project “Flexor” (TIN2014-52129-R), the region of Madrid with project “SICOMORO-CM” (S2013/ICE-3006), and the EU commission with project “MONDO” (FP7- ICT-2013-10, #611125)

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