Algebraic Specification of a Model Transformation Engine

Abstract

Abstract. In Model-Driven Engineering, a software development process is a sequence of manipulation tasks that are applied to models, where model transformations play a relevant role. MOMENT (MOdel manageMENT) is a framework that is integrated in the Eclipse platform. MOMENT provides a collection of generic set-oriented operators to manipulate EMF models. In this paper, we present the model transformation mechanism that is embodied by the ModelGen operator. This operator uses the term rewriting system Maude as transformation engine and provides support for traceability. ModelGen has been defined in an algebraic specification so that we can use formal tools to reason about transformation features, such as termination and confluence. Furthermore, its application to EMF models shows that formal methods can be applied to industrial modeling tools in an efficient way. Finally, we indicate how the ModelGen operator provides support for the QVT Relations language in the MOMENT Framework.

Specification-driven model transformation testing

“…In the context of model transformations, the works targeting their validation and verification can be classified in three categories: (i) those using a formal language to implement the transformations, so that it is possible to ensure or analyse transformation properties such as termination or determinism [11,12,16,32]; (ii) those translating the transformations into formal domains for analysis, such as Petri nets [23], rewriting logic [3,49] or SAT problems [7]; (iii) and those focusing on testing of transformations. The first two approaches allow for the analysis of general properties such as termination, determinism, rule independence, rule applicability or reachability of system states.…”

“…Fig. 8 shows part of our specification example using the textual editor, in particular the definition of the invariants ParallelGateway1 (lines [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and ParallelGateway3 (lines 15-37). The generation of the test suite and input models from this specification is push-button.…”

Algebraic Semantics of OCL-Constrained Metamodel Specifications

“…In their approach the concrete syntax of MML is mapped to the MML Calculus, which provides an operational semantics for both UML modeling constructs and OCL operations. In MOMENT2, we also follow a translational approach to provide semantics to MOF (as presented in [15]) and to OCL. MOF (through EMF) and OCL constitute our concrete syntax and the C mapping provides the translation of OCL expressions, defined in a metamodel specification, into a mel theory.…”

Formal Support for QVT-Relations with Coloured Petri Nets

“…if the incoming places have enough tokens to bind the variables appearing in the incoming arcs, the variables in the guard are bound, and the expression evaluates to true. In the example, transition PackageToSchema is enabled (and hence highlighted) because the arc from Package demands one token with value "persistent" in the field kind (which exists), while the guard demands a token containing a list without any record whose two fields are equal to p. Hence, the transition is enabled with the binding b 1 …”

“…Regarding QVT-R, in [1,11] the authors formalize it by using rewriting logic and Maude; however there is no comment about CBE semantics and no discussion on termination or confluence. In [6] the author uses OCL for representing the static semantics, and Alloy for the dynamics.…”