Lifting model transformations to product lines

Abstract

Software product lines and model transformations are two techniques used in industry for managing the development of highly complex software. Product line approaches simplify the handling of software variants while model transformations automate software manipulations such as refactoring, optimization, code generation, etc. While these techniques are well understood independently, combining them to get the benefit of both poses a challenge because most model transformations apply to individual models while modellevel product lines represent sets of models. In this paper, we address this challenge by providing an approach for automatically "lifting" model transformations so that they can be applied to product lines. We illustrate our approach using a case study and evaluate it through a set of experiments.

Migrating Automotive Product Lines: A Case Study

“…An algorithm for applying lifted rules at a specific site is given in [27], along with a proof of production correctness that is consistent with the above definition. In brief, given a matching site and a lifted rule, the algorithm performs the following steps: (a) use a SAT solver to check whether the rule is applicable to at least one product at that site, (b) modify the domain model of the product line, and (c) modify the presence conditions of the changed domain model so the rule e↵ect only occurs in applicable products.…”

“…When executing a DSLTrans transformation, the basic operation (called here a "production") is the application of a individual rule at a particular matching site site. The definition and theoretical foundation of lifting for productions are given in [27]. Below, we describe how they apply in the case of GmToAutosar using the model fragment in Fig.…”

“…In our earlier work [27], we presented a technique for "lifting" a class of model transformations so that they can be applied to software product lines. Lifting here means reinterpretation of a transformation so that instead of a single product, it applies to the entire product line.…”

“…Specifically, we report on an experience of lifting a previously published transformation [31], GmToAutosar, used in the context of automotive software and applying it to a realistic product line. We lifted GmToAutosar using the theory of lifting presented in [27]. In order to do this, we had to adapt parts of the existing model transformation engine, DSLTrans.…”

A Variability-Based Approach to Reusable and Efficient Model Transformations

“…In [18], the authors propose an approach for transformation "lifting": given a classic model transformation, a transformation that operates on a family of related models is generated automatically. Instead, we do not focus on transforming a family of models but rather on creating and applying a family of related transformation rules in an efficient manner.…”