A configurable framework for method and tool integration

There is an urgent need to provide a sound generic framework for method and toolintegration, where many differing notations are used, software development is distributedand management support for the software development process is provided. This paperargues that there is much to be learnt from proven practical techniques for softwareconstruction, particularly those that support distributed software integration, heterogeneityand software management. Configuration Programming is one such approach whichadvocates the use of a separate, declarative configuration language for the description ofsystem structure. It has been used in the Conic Environment for the development ofdistributable software, and is being extended for the configuration of heterogeneouscomponents programmed in different programming languages. A number of software toolsexist for the development, construction and management of Conic systems. This papershows how an analogous set of the principles, practice and tools from configurationprogramming can be combined with recent work on ViewPoints1 to provide a configurablef ramework for method and tool integration

A Development Method for the Conceptual Design of Multi-View Modeling Tools with an Emphasis on Consistency Requirements

The main objective of this thesis is to bridge the gap between modeling method experts on the one side and tool developers on the other. More precisely, the focus is on the specification of requirements for multi-view modeling tools. In this regard, the thesis introduces a methodological approach that supports the specification of conceptual designs for multi-view modeling tools in a stepwise manner: the MuVieMoT approach. MuVieMoT utilizes generic multi-view modeling concepts and the model-driven engineering paradigm to establish an overarching specification of multi-view modeling tools with an emphasis on consistency requirements. The approach builds on and extends the theoretical foundation of metamodeling and multi-view modeling: generic multi-view modeling concepts, integrated multi-view modeling approaches, and possibilities for formalized modeling method specifications. Applicability and utility of MuVieMoT are evaluated using an illustrative scenario, therefore specifying a conceptual design for a multi-view modeling tool for the Semantic Object Model enterprise modeling method. The thesis moreover introduces the MuVieMoT modeling environment, enabling the efficient application of the approach as well as the model-driven development of initial multi-view modeling tools based on the conceptual models created with MuVieMoT. Consequently, the approach fosters an intersubjective and unambiguous understanding of the tool requirements between method experts and tool developers