Abstract
Model-driven software engineering intends to increase the productivity of software engineers by replacing conventional programming with the development of executable models at a high level of abstraction. It is claimed that graph transformation rules contribute towards this goal since they provide a declarative, usually graphical specification of complex model transformations. Frequently, graph transformation rules are organized into even more complex model transformations with the help of control structures, resulting in full-fledged support for executable behavioral models.
This paper examines the added value of programmed graph transformations with the help of a case study from software configuration management. To this end, a large model is analyzed which was developed in the MOD2-SCM project over a period of several years. The model was developed in Fujaba, which provides story diagrams for programming with graph transformations. Our analysis shows that the model exhibits a strongly procedural flavor. Graph transformation rules are heavily used, but typically consist of very small patterns. Furthermore, story diagrams provide fairly low level control structures. Altogether, these findings challenge the claim that programming with graph transformations is performed at a significantly higher level of abstraction than conventional programming.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buchmann, T., Dotor, A.: Towards a model-driven product line for SCM systems. In: McGregor, J.D., Muthig, D. (eds.) Proc. of the 13th Int. Software Product Line Conference, vol. 2, pp. 174–181. SEI (2009)
Buchmann, T., Dotor, A., Klinke, M.: Supporting modeling in the large in Fujaba. In: van Gorp, P. (ed.) Proc. of the 7th International Fujaba Days, pp. 59–63 (2009)
Dotor, A.: Entwurf und Modellierung einer Produktlinie von Software-Konfigurations-Management-Systemen. Ph.D. thesis, University of Bayreuth (2011)
Kang, K.C., Cohen, S.G., Hess, J.A., Novak, W.E., Peterson, A.S.: Feature-oriented domain analysis (FODA) feasibility study. Tech. rep., Carnegie-Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (1990)
Marburger, A.: Reverse Engineering of Complex Legacy Telecommunication Systems. Berichte aus der Informatik. Shaker-Verlag (2005)
OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure V2.2 (version 2.2) (February 2009)
Schürr, A., Winter, A., Zündorf, A.: The PROGRES Approach: Language and Environment. In: Handbook of Graph Grammars and Computing by Graph Transformation, vol. 2: Applications, Languages, and Tools, pp. 487–550. World Scientific (1999)
Zündorf, A.: Rigorous object oriented software development. Tech. rep., University of Paderborn, Germany (2001)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Buchmann, T., Westfechtel, B., Winetzhammer, S. (2012). The Added Value of Programmed Graph Transformations – A Case Study from Software Configuration Management. In: Schürr, A., Varró, D., Varró, G. (eds) Applications of Graph Transformations with Industrial Relevance. AGTIVE 2011. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7233. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34176-2_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34176-2_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-34175-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-34176-2
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)