More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/

research-article

On the automation-supported derivation of domain-specific UML profiles considering static semantics

Author:

Alexander KraasAuthors Info & Claims

Software and Systems Modeling, Volume 21, Issue 1

Pages 51 - 79

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-021-00890-1

Published: 01 February 2022 Publication History

Abstract

In the light of standardization, the model-driven engineering (MDE) is becoming increasingly important for the development of DSLs, in addition to traditional approaches based on grammar formalisms. Metamodels define the abstract syntax and static semantics of a DSL and can be created by using the language concepts of the Meta Object Facility (MOF) or by defining a UML profile.

Both metamodels and UML profiles are often provided for standardized DSLs, and the mappings of metamodels to UML profiles are usually specified informally in natural language, which also applies for the static semantics of metamodels and/or UML profiles, which has the disadvantage that ambiguities can occur, and that the static semantics must be manually translated into a machine-processable language.

To address these weaknesses, we propose a new automated approach for deriving a UML profile from the metamodel of a DSL. One novelty is that subsetting or redefining metaclass attributes are mapped to stereotype attributes whose values are computed at runtime via automatically created OCL expressions. The automatic transfer of the static semantics of a DSL to a UML profile is a further contribution of our approach. Our DSL Metamodeling and Derivation Toolchain (DSL-MeDeTo) implements all aspects of our proposed approach in Eclipse. This enabled us to successfully apply our approach to the two DSLs Test Description Language (TDL) and Specification and Description Language (SDL).

References

[1]

Bergmayr, A., Wimmer, M.: Generating metamodels from grammars by chaining translational and by-example techniques. In: Model-driven Engineering by Example, CEUR Workshop Proceedings, vol. 1104, pp. 22–31. CEUR-WS.org (2013)

[2]

Boulet, P., Amyot, D., Stepien, B.: Towards the generation of tests in the test description language from use case map models. In: SDL 2015: Model-Driven Engineering for Smart Cities, LNCS, vol. 9369, pp. 193–201. Springer (2015)

[3]

Clark, T., Sammut, P., Willans, J.S.: Applied metamodelling: A foundation for language driven development (3rd ed.). Computing Research Repository (CoRR) abs/1505.00149 (2015)

[4]

D’Souza D, Sane A, and Birchenough A First-class extensibility for UML - packaging of profiles, stereotypes, patterns The Unified Modeling Language: Beyond the Standard 1999 Berlin Springer 265-277

[5]

Efftinge, S., Völter, M.: OAW xText: A framework for textual DSLs. In: Modeling Symposium at Eclipse Summit, vol. 32, pp. 118–121. eclipsecon.org (2006)

[6]

ETSI: ES 203 119-1: The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 1: Abstract Syntax and Associated Semantics, V1.3.1. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (2016)

[7]

ETSI: ES 203 119-2: The Test Description Language (TDL); Part 2: Graphical Syntax, V1.2.1. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (2016)

[8]

ETSI: ETSI ES 201 873-1: The Testing and Test Control Notation version 3; Part 1: TTCN-3 Core Language, V4.10.1. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (2018)

[9]

Falleri, J.R., Huchard, M., Lafourcade, M., Nebut, C.: Metamodel matching for automatic model transformation generation. In: Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, LNCS, vol. 5301, pp. 326–340. Springer (2008)

[10]

Fischer, J., Piefel, M., Scheidgen, M.: A metamodel for SDL-2000 in the context of metamodelling ULF. In: System Analysis and Modeling, LNCS, vol. 3319, pp. 208–223. Springer (2004)

[11]

Fuentes-Fernández L and Vallecillo-Moreno A An introduction to UML profiles Europ. J. Inform. Prof. 2004 5 2 6-13

[12]

Giachetti G, Albert M, Marín B, and Pastor O Linking UML and MDD through UML profiles: a practical approach based on the UML association J. Univ. Comput. Sci. 2010 16 17 2353-2373

[13]

Giachetti G, Marín B, and Pastor O Integration of domain-specific modelling languages and UML through UML profile extension mechanism J. Comput. Appl. 2009 6 5 145-174

[14]

Giachetti, G., Marín, B., Pastor, O.: Using UML as a domain-specific modeling language: A proposal for automatic generation of UML profiles. In: Advanced Information Systems Engineering, LNCS, vol. 5565, pp. 110–124. Springer (2009)

[15]

Giachetti, G., Valverde, F., Pastor, O.: Improving automatic UML2 profile generation for MDA industrial development. In: Advances in Conceptual Modeling – Challenges and Opportunities, LNCS, vol. 5232, pp. 113–122. Springer (2008)

[16]

Goldschmidt, T., Becker, S., Uhl, A.: Classification of concrete textual syntax mapping approaches. In: Model Driven Architecture – Foundations and Applications, LNCS, vol. 5095, pp. 169–184. Springer (2008)

[17]

Heidenreich, F., Johannes, J., Karol, S., Seifert, M., Wende, C.: Model-based language engineering with EMFtext. In: Generative and Transformational Techniques in Software Engineering IV, LNCS, vol. 7680, pp. 322–345. Springer (2013)

[18]

ITU-T: Rec. Z.109: Specification and Description Language – SDL-2000 combined with UML. International Telecommunication Union (2007)

[19]

ITU-T: Rec. Z.120: Message Sequence Chart (MSC). International Telecommunication Union (2011)

[20]

ITU-T: Rec. Z.109: Specification and Description Language – Unified Modeling Language profile for SDL-2010. International Telecommunication Union (2013)

[21]

ITU-T: Rec. Z.100: Specification and Description Language – Overview of SDL-2010. International Telecommunication Union (2016)

[22]

Karsai, G., Krahn, H., Pinkernell, C., Rumpe, B., Schindler, M., Völkel, S.: Design guidelines for domain specific languages. In: Domain-Specific Modeling. arxiv.org (2009)

[23]

Kobryn C UML 2001: A standardization odyssey ACM 1999 42 10 29-37

[24]

Kraas, A.: Open issues of the SDL-UML profile. Tech. Rep. N-106519, Fraunhofer ESK, Munich, Germany (2009)

[25]

Kraas, A.: The SDL-UML profile revisited. In: System Analysis and Modeling: About Models, LNCS, vol. 6598, pp. 108–123. Springer (2011)

[26]

Kraas, A.: Towards an extensible modeling and validation framework for SDL-UML. In: System Analysis and Modeling: Models and Reusability, LNCS, vol. 8769, pp. 255–270. Springer (2014)

[27]

Kraas, A.: Automated tooling for the evolving SDL standard: From metamodels to UML profiles. In: SDL 2017: Model-Driven Engineering for Future Internet, LNCS, vol. 10567, pp. 1–21. Springer (2017)

[28]

Kraas, A.: On the automated derivation of domain-specific UML profiles. In: Modelling Foundations and Applications, LNCS, vol. 10376, pp. 3–19. Springer (2017)

[29]

Kraas, A.: On the automated derivation of domain-specific UML profiles. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Information Systems and Applied Computer Sciences, University of Bamberg, Germany (2019). https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/45648

[30]

Lagarde, F., Espinoza, H., Terrier, F., Gérard, S.: Improving UML profile design practices by leveraging conceptual domain models. In: Automated Software Engineering, pp. 445–448. ACM (2007)

[31]

Langer, P., Wimmer, M., Kappel, G.: Model-to-model transformations by demonstration. In: Theory and Practice of Model Transformations, LNCS, vol. 6142, pp. 153–167. Springer (2010)

[32]

Makedonski, P., Adamis, G., Käärik, M., Kristoffersen, F., Zeitoun, X.: Evolving the ETSI test description language. In: System Analysis and Modeling: Technology-Specific Aspects of Models, LNCS, vol. 9959, pp. 116–131. Springer (2016)

[33]

Malavolta, I., Muccini, H., Sebastiani, M.: Automatically bridging UML profiles to MOF metamodels. In: Software Engineering and Advanced Applications, pp. 259–266. IEEE (2015)

[34]

Marroquin, A., Gonzalez, D., Maag, S.: A novel distributed testing approach based on test cases dependencies for communication protocols. In: Research in Adaptive and Convergent Systems, pp. 497–504. ACM (2015)

[35]

Noyrit, F., Gérard, S., Selic, B.: FacadeMetamodel: Masking UML. In: Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, LNCS, vol. 7590, pp. 20–35. Springer (2012)

[36]

OMG: MOF Model to Text Transformation Language – Version 1.0. Object Management Group (2008)

[37]

OMG: Software Systems Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) – Version 2.0. Object Management Group (2008)

[38]

OMG: Meta Object Facility (MOF) 2.0 Query/View/Transformation Specification – Version 1.1. Object Management Group (2011)

[39]

OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Infrastructure, Version 2.4.1. Object Management Group (2011)

[40]

OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, Version 2.4.1. Object Management Group (2011)

[41]

OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Version 2.5. Object Management Group (2011)

[42]

OMG: UML Profile for MARTE: Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time Embedded Systems, Version 1.1. Object Management Group (2011)

[43]

OMG: Service oriented architecture Modeling Language (SoaML) – Version 1.0.1. Object Management Group (2012)

[44]

OMG: Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) – Version 2.0.2. Object Management Group (2013)

[45]

OMG: Object Constraint Language – Version 2.4. Object Management Group (2014)

[46]

OMG: UML Profile for BPMN Processes – Version 1.0. Object Management Group (2014)

[47]

OMG: OMG Meta Object Facility (MOF) Core Specification – Version 2.5. Object Management Group (2015)

[48]

Pastor, O., Giachetti, G., Marín, B., Valverde, F.: Automating the interoperability of conceptual models in specific development domains. In: Domain Engineering: Product Lines, Languages, and Conceptual Models, pp. 349–373. Springer (2013)

[49]

Scheidgen, M.: Description of languages based on object-oriented meta-modelling. Ph.D. thesis, Humboldt-Univ., Berlin, Germany (2009)

[50]

Selic, B.: A systematic approach to domain-specific language design using UML. In: Object and Component-Oriented Real-Time Distributed Computing, pp. 2–9. IEEE (2007)

[51]

da Silva, A.R.: Model-driven engineering: A survey supported by the unified conceptual model. Computer Languages, Systems & Structures 43(C), 139–155 (2015)

[52]

Steinberg, D., Budinsky, F., Merks, E., Paternostro, M.: EMF: Eclipse Modeling Framework. Pearson Education (2008)

[53]

Strembeck, M., Zdun, U.: An approach for the systematic development of domain-specific languages. Software: Practice and Experience 39(15), 1253–1292 (2009)

[54]

Tenbergen, B., Bohn, P., Weyer, T.: Ein strukturierter Ansatz zur Ableitung methodenspezifischer UML/SysML-Profile am Beispiel des SPES 2020 Requirements Viewpoints. In: Software Engineering 2013, Lecture Notes in Informatics, vol. 215, pp. 235–244. GI (2013)

[55]

Ulrich, A., Jell, S., Votintseva, A., Kull, A.: The ETSI Test Description Language TDL and its application. In: Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD 2014), pp. 601–608. SCITEPRESS (2014)

[56]

Wimmer M A semi-automatic approach for bridging DSMLs with UML J. Web Inform. Syst. 2009 5 3 372-404

[57]

EMFText concrete syntax mapper homepage. https://marketplace.eclipse.org/content/emftext (Accessed: 04.02.2020)

[58]

Homepage of the SU-MoVal and DSL-MeDeTo toolchains. http://www.su-moval.org (Accessed: 04.02.2020)

[59]

xText homepage. http://www.eclipse.org/Xtext/ (Accessed: 04.02.2020)

Cited By

Nurjabova DSayyora QGulmira P(2022)Artificial Intelligence Software Architecture in the Field of Cardiology and Application in the Cardio Vessel Project Using CJM and Customer Development MethodsInternet of Things, Smart Spaces, and Next Generation Networks and Systems10.1007/978-3-031-30258-9_6(57-72)Online publication date: 15-Dec-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-30258-9_6

Index Terms

On the automation-supported derivation of domain-specific UML profiles considering static semantics
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software creation and management
    1. Designing software
    2. Software development techniques
  2. Software notations and tools
    1. Formal language definitions
      1. Semantics
2. Theory of computation
  1. Formal languages and automata theory
  2. Semantics and reasoning
    1. Program semantics

Index terms have been assigned to the content through auto-classification.

Recommendations

Domain-specific language modelling with UML profiles by decoupling abstract and concrete syntaxes

UML profiling presents some acknowledged deficiencies, among which the lack of expressiveness of the profiled notations, together with the high coupling between abstract and concrete syntaxes outstand. These deficiencies may cause distress among UML-...
Defining domain-specific object-oriented modeling languages as uml profiles
Using UML as a Domain-Specific Modeling Language: A Proposal for Automatic Generation of UML Profiles
CAiSE '09: Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering

Nowadays, there are several MDD approaches that have defined Domain-Specific Modeling Languages (DSML) that are oriented to representing their particular semantics. However, since UML is the standard language for software modeling, many of these MDD ...

Comments

Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image Software and Systems Modeling (SoSyM)

Software and Systems Modeling (SoSyM) Volume 21, Issue 1

Feb 2022

424 pages

ISSN:1619-1366

Issue’s Table of Contents

© The Author(s) 2021.

Publisher

Springer-Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg

Publication History

Published: 01 February 2022

Accepted: 06 May 2021

Revision received: 27 March 2021

Received: 05 May 2019

Qualifiers

Research-article

Funding Sources

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg (3120)

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

1
Total Citations
View Citations
0
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)0
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0

Reflects downloads up to 15 Jan 2025

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Nurjabova DSayyora QGulmira P(2022)Artificial Intelligence Software Architecture in the Field of Cardiology and Application in the Cardio Vessel Project Using CJM and Customer Development MethodsInternet of Things, Smart Spaces, and Next Generation Networks and Systems10.1007/978-3-031-30258-9_6(57-72)Online publication date: 15-Dec-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-30258-9_6

View Options

View options

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Issue’s Table of Contents