Validation in model-driven engineering: testing model transformations

AbstractModel transformations are among the key concepts of model-driven engineering (MDE), and dedicated model transformation languages (MTLs) emerged with the popularity of the MDE pssaradigm about 15 to 20 years ago. MTLs claim to increase the ease of development of model transformations by abstracting from recurring transformation aspects and hiding complex semantics behind a simple and intuitive syntax. Nonetheless, MTLs are rarely adopted in practice, there is still no empirical evidence for the claim of easier development, and the argument of abstraction deserves a fresh look in the light of modern general purpose languages (GPLs) which have undergone a significant evolution in the last two decades. In this paper, we report about a study in which we compare the complexity and size of model transformations written in three different languages, namely (i) the Atlas Transformation Language (ATL), (ii) Java SE5 (2004–2009), and (iii) Java SE14 (2020); the Java transformations are derived from an ATL specification using a translation schema we developed for our study. In a nutshell, we found that some of the new features in Java SE14 compared to Java SE5 help to significantly reduce the complexity of transformations written in Java by as much as 45%. At the same time, however, the relative amount of complexity that stems from aspects that ATL can hide from the developer, which is about 40% of the total complexity, stays about the same. Furthermore we discovered that while transformation code in Java SE14 requires up to 25% less lines of code, the number of words written in both versions stays about the same. And while the written number of words stays about the same their distribution throughout the code changes significantly. Based on these results, we discuss the concrete advancements in newer Java versions. We also discuss to which extent new language advancements justify writing transformations in a general purpose language rather than a dedicated transformation language. We further indicate potential avenues for future research on the comparison of MTLs and GPLs in a model transformation context.

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Content Based Model Transformations: Solutions to Existing Issues with Application in Information Security

International Journal of Computers Communications & Control ◽

10.15837/ijccc.2016.2.2021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 233

Author(s):

Justinas Janulevicius ◽

Simona Ramanauskaite ◽

Nikolaj Goranin ◽

Antanas Cenys

Keyword(s):

Software Engineering ◽

Information Security ◽

Model Transformation ◽

Model Transformations ◽

Model Driven Engineering ◽

Model Driven ◽

Production Models ◽

Dependent Model ◽

The Cost

Model-Driven Engineering uses models in various stages of the software engineering. To reduce the cost of modelling and production, models are reused by transforming. Therefore the accuracy of model transformations plays a key role in ensuring the quality of the process. However, problems exist when trying to transform a very abstract and content dependent model. This paper describes the issues arising from such transformations. Solutions to solve problems in content based model transformation are proposed as well. The usage of proposed solutions allowing realization of semi-automatic transformations was integrated into a tool, designed for OPC/XML drawing file transformations to CySeMoL models. The accuracy of transformations in this tool has been analyzed and presented in this paper to acquire data on the proposed solutions influence to the accuracy in content based model transformation.

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Languages for model-driven development of user interfaces: Review of the state of the art

Yugoslav journal of operations research ◽

10.2298/yjor121101007j ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 327-341 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mladjan Jovanovic ◽

Dusan Starcevic ◽

Zoran Jovanovic

Keyword(s):

User Interface ◽

Software Engineering ◽

User Interfaces ◽

State Of The Art ◽

The State ◽

Level Of Detail ◽

Model Transformations ◽

Model Driven Engineering ◽

Model Driven Development ◽

Model Driven

In model-driven user interface development, several models are used to describe different aspects of user interface when level of detail varies. The relations between the models are established through model transformations. The Model Driven Engineering (MDE) approach has been proposed in software engineering domain in order to provide techniques and tools to deal with models in the automated way. In this paper, we will review existing user interface languages that gain wider acceptance, and discuss their applicability for model-driven user interface development.

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Diversity of MDE Toolboxes and Their Uncommon Properties

10.5753/mssis.2020.12489 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Paulo Gabriel Teixeira ◽

Bruno Gabriel Araújo Lebtag ◽

Fábio Paulo Basso

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Model Transformations ◽

Model Driven Engineering ◽

Domain Specific Languages ◽

Search String ◽

Model Driven ◽

Domain Specific ◽

High Degree ◽

High Diversity

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) has reached some maturity. Due to that, a high diversity of technologies and platforms have emerged to support the resolution of a range of problems and contexts in which MDEis adopted as a solution. As a consequence, when some level of reuse of those artifacts (such as model transformations, Domain-Specific Languages(DSLs) and refinement tools), difficulties are faced due to the high diversity of formats in which all those assets are specified. Since we noted this trend, we decided to search for instances in the literature that supports our hypothesis of a high degree of diversity in MDE artifacts in the state of the practice. Thus, we carried out an exploratory literature review. As a result, we summarized key studies used as input to build a search string adopted to structure a future systematic literature review. Our study contributes by classifying nine types of MDE toolboxes with uncommon properties than those usually found in MDE workbenches.

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