A Solution to the Flowgraphs Case Study using Triple Graph Grammars and eMoflon

After 20 years of Triple Graph Grammars (TGGs) and numerous actively maintained implementations, there is now a need for challenging examples and success stories to show that TGGs can be used for real-world bidirectional model transformations. Our primary goal in recent years has been to increase the expressiveness of TGGs by providing a set of pragmatic features that allow a controlled fallback to programmed graph transformations and Java. Based on the Flowgraphs case study of the Transformation Tool Contest (TTC 2013), we present (i) attribute constraints used to express complex bidirectional attribute manipulation, (ii) binding expressions for specifying arbitrary context relationships, and (iii) post-processing methods as a black box extension for TGG rules. In each case, we discuss the enabled trade-off between guaranteed formal properties and expressiveness. Our solution, implemented with our metamodelling and model transformation tool eMoflon (www.emoflon.org), is available as a virtual machine hosted on Share.Comment: In Proceedings TTC 2013, arXiv:1311.753

Enterprise Modelling using Algebraic Graph Transformation - Extended Version

An analysis of today's situation at Credit Suisse has shown severe problems, because it is based on current best practices and ad-hoc modelling techniques to handle important aspects of security, risk and compliance. Based on this analysis we propose in this paper a new enterprise model which allows the construction, integration, transformation and evaluation of different organizational models in a big decentralized organization like Credit Suisse. The main idea of the new model framework is to provide small decentralized models and intra-model evaluation techniques to handle services, processes and rules separately for the business and IT universe on one hand and for human-centric and machine-centric concepts on the other hand. Furthermore, the new framework provides inter-modelling techniques based on algebraic graph transformation to establish the connection between different kinds of models and to allow integration of the decentralized models. In order to check for security, risk and compliance in a suitable way, our models and techniques are based on different kinds of formal methods. In this paper, we show that algebraic graph transformation techniques are useful not only for intra-modelling - using graph grammars for visual languages and graph constraints for requirements - but also for inter-modelling - using triple graph grammars for model transformation and integration. Altogether, we present the overall idea of our new model framework and show how to solve specific problems concerning intra- and inter-modelling as first steps. This should give evidence that our framework can also handle important other requirements for enterprise modelling in a big decentralized organization like Credit Suisse

From Separate Formal Specifications to Certified Integrated Visual Modelling Techniques and Environments - Position Statement

In this position statement we discuss the state of the art and role of formal specification and modelling techniques in different periods with special focus on the work of the TFS-group at TU-Berlin. In the past (1970 – 1990) single formal specification techniques have been developed with little impact on practical software development. In the present (1990 – 2010) integrated and visual modelling techniques have gained more and more importance. For the future (2010 – 2020) we try to sketch the idea of a Certified Integrated Visual Modelling Technique and Environment based on an integration of graph theory, graph transformation and Petri net theory, short Dynamic Graph and Net Theory

Supporting user-oriented analysis for multi-view domain-specific visual languages

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Information and Software Technology. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2008 Elsevier B.V.The integration of usable and flexible analysis support in modelling environments is a key success factor in Model-Driven Development. In this paradigm, models are the core asset from which code is automatically generated, and thus ensuring model correctness is a fundamental quality control activity. For this purpose, a common approach is to transform the system models into formal semantic domains for verification. However, if the analysis results are not shown in a proper way to the end-user (e.g. in terms of the original language) they may become useless. In this paper we present a novel DSVL called BaVeL that facilitates the flexible annotation of verification results obtained in semantic domains to different formats, including the context of the original language. BaVeL is used in combination with a consistency framework, providing support for all steps in a verification process: acquisition of additional input data, transformation of the system models into semantic domains, verification, and flexible annotation of analysis results. The approach has been validated analytically by the cognitive dimensions framework, and empirically by its implementation and application to several DSVLs. Here we present a case study of a notation in the area of Digital Libraries, where the analysis is performed by transformations into Petri nets and a process algebra.Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and MODUWEB

Bidirectional Transformation "bx" (Dagstuhl Seminar 11031)

Bidirectional transformations bx are a mechanism for maintaining the consistency of two (or more) related sources of information. Researchers from many different areas of computer science including databases (DB), graph transformations (GT), software engineering (SE), and programming languages (PL) are actively investigating the use of bx to solve a diverse set of problems. Although researchers have been actively working on bidirectional transformations in the above mentioned communities for many years already, there has been very little cross-discipline interaction and cooperation so far. The purpose of a first International Meeting on Bidirectional Transformations (GRACE-BX), held in December 2008 near Tokyo, was therefore to bring together international elites, promising young researchers, and leading practitioners to share problems, discuss solutions, and open a dialogue towards understanding the common underpinnings of bx in all these areas. While the GRACE-BX meeting provided a starting point for exchanging ideas in different communities and confirmed our believe that there is a considerable overlap of studied problems and developed solutions in the identified communities, the Dagstuhl Seminar 11031 on ``Bidirectional Transformations\u27\u27 also aimed at providing a place for working together to define a common vocabulary of terms and desirable properties of bidirectional transformations, develop a suite of benchmarks, solve some challenging problems, and launch joint efforts to form a living bx community of cooperating experts across the identified subdisciplines. This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 11031 with abstracts of tutorials, working groups, and presentations on specific research topics

What Algebraic Graph Transformations Can Do For Model Transformations

Model transformations are key activities in model-driven development (MDD). A number of model transformation approaches have emerged for different purposes and with different backgrounds. This paper focusses on the use of algebraic graph transformation concepts to specify and verify model transformations in MDD

Conformance Analysis of Organizational Models in a new Enterprise Modeling Framework using Algebraic Graph Transformation - Extended Version

Organizational models play a key role in today's enterprise modeling. These models often show up as partial models produced by people with different conceptual understandings in a usually decentralized organization, where they are modeled in a distributed and non-synchronized fashion. For this reason, there is a first major need to organize partial organizational models within a suitable modeling framework, and there is a second major need to check their mutual conformance. This builds the basis to integrate the partial organizational models later on into one holistic model of the organization. Moreover, the partial models can be used for model checking certain security, risk, and compliance constraints. In order to satisfy the two major needs, this paper presents two mutually aligned contributions. The first one is a new enterprise modeling framework the EM-Cube. The second contribution is a new approach for checking conformance of models that are developed based on the suggested formal modeling technique associated with the proposed framework. In addition to that, we evaluate our potential solution against concrete requirements derived from a real-world scenario coming out of the finance industry

Bidirectional Model Transformations in QVT: Semantic Issues and Open Questions

(QVT) standard as applied to the specification of bidirectional transformations between models. We discuss what is meant by bidirectional transformations, and the model-driven development scenarios in which they are needed. We analyse the fundamental requirements on tools which support such transformations, and discuss some semantic issues which arise. We argue that a considerable amount of basic research is needed before suitable tools will be fully realisable, and suggest directions for this future research

Model Transformation of Model Fragments Using Borrowed Context: Extended Version

In this technical report we study the transformation of models in the context of algebraic graph transformation and triple graph grammars. The new contribution of the report is to define and analyze the transformation of model fragments in general and the propagtion of graph constraints in particular. With the borrowed context we developed a technique further to the model transformation with triple graph grammars. This allows a transformation of incomplete models which could not be transformed until now. Moreover, we defined under which conditions a graph constraint can be propagated with borrowed context transformations and the model properties are preserved. This is also analyzed in the case study using the modeling framework ABT-Reo