Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to provide a feature-based characterization of version control systems (VCSs), providing an overview about the state-of-the-art of versioning systems dedicated to modeling artifacts. Design/methodology/approach -Based on a literature study of existing approaches, a description of the features of versioning systems is established. Special focus is set on three-way merging which is an integral component of optimistic versioning. This characterization is employed on current model versioning systems, which allows the derivation of challenges in this research area. Findings -The results of the evaluation show that several challenges need to be addressed in future developments of VCSs and merging tools in order to allow the parallel development of model artifacts. Practical implications -Making model-driven engineering (MDE) a success requires supporting the parallel development of model artifacts as is done nowadays for text-based artifacts. Therefore, model versioning capabilities are a must for leveraging MDE in practice. Originality/value -The paper gives a comprehensive overview of collaboration features of VCSs for software engineering artifacts in general, discusses the state-of-the-art of systems for model artifacts, and finally, lists urgent challenges, which have to be considered in future model versioning system for realizing MDE in practice.
For a widespread success of the model-driven paradigm, appropriate tools such as "Version Control Systems" (VCS) are required to adequately support a model-based development process. First attempts to model-based versioning, however, perform conflict detection mainly on basis of a syntactic representation of models without exploiting their semantics. Consequently, in this paper the approach towards a semantically enhanced VCS is presented which enables for semantic conflict detection allowing not only a more precise conflict detection but also the determination of a conflict's reason, which can simplify the merge process. This is achieved by introducing the concept of semantic views which explicate a certain aspect of a modeling language's semantics relevant for conflict detection.
To coordinate different versions of a software model, edited by modelers in parallel, various model versions need to be merged to one consolidated version. Therefore, adequate tool support in terms of version control systems (VCSs) is considered essential. Diverse approaches evolved for merging model versions including different conflict detection methods. Indeed, only a limited consensus about possible categories for conflicts exists. A common terminology and a categorization of possible types of conflict are missing.In this article we propose a categorization for conflicts in model versioning along with an assessment of levels of severity: a base for future discussions and comparison of approaches to conflict detection on models.Eine Kategorisierung von Konflikten in der Modellversionierung.Zur Koordination der verteilten Bearbeitung von Software-Modellen mü ssen die entstandenen Modellversionen wieder zusammengefü hrt werden. Daher wird eine zufriedenstellende Toolunterstü tzung in Form von Versionierungssystemen (VCSs) als wesentlich erachtet. Es haben sich unterschiedliche Ansä tze fü r das Zusammenfü hren von Modellen einschließlich Konflikterkennungsmethoden entwickelt. Dabei herrscht nur eine eingeschrä nkte Einigkeit ü ber eine mö gliche Kategorisierung von Konflikten. Eine gemeinsame Terminologie und Kategorisierung fehlen.In diesem Artikel wird eine Kategorisierung von Konflikten in der Modellversionierung zusammen mit einer Bewertung der Niveaus der Schwere von Konflikten vorgeschlagen: eine Basis fü r zukü nftige Diskussionen und fü r den Vergleich von Konflikterkennungsansä tzen fü r Modelle.Schlü sselwö rter: Versionierungssystem; Konflikterkennung; Model-Management; modellgetriebene Softwareentwicklung
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.