Costs and benefits of multiple levels of models in MDA development

In Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) development, models of a distributed application are carefully defined so as to remain stable in face of changes in technology platforms. As we have argued previously in [1, 3], models in MDA can be organized into different levels of platformindependence. In this paper, we analyze the costs and benefits of maintaining separate levels of models with transformations between these levels. We argue that the number of levels of models and the degree of automation of transformations between these levels depend on a number of design goals to be balanced, including those of maximizing the efficiency of the design process and maximizing the reusability of models and transformations

Model Driven Development of m-Health Systems (with a Touch of Formality)

We propose a model driven design and development methodology augmented with formal validation and verification (V&V) for the development of mobile health systems. Systems which deliver healthcare services remotely should be developed using robust and trusted engineering technologies. The methodology instantiates steps in the MDA trajectory using formal methods to verify critical properties of models, to test preservation of those properties in the derived implementations and to effect model transformations by correctness preserving transformations. The methodology is described and some initial modelling is reported

Traceability-based change management in operational mappings

This paper describes an approach for the analysis of changes in model transformations in the Model Driven Architecture (MDA). Models should be amenable to changes in user requirements and technological platforms. Impact analysis of changes can be based on traceability of model elements. We propose a model for generating trace links between model elements and study scenarios for changes in source models and how to identify the impacted elements in the target model

An MDA approach towards integrating formal and informal modeling languages

This paper shows how formal and informal modeling languages can be cooperatively used in the MDA framework, and how transformations between models in these languages can be achieved using an MDA development environment. The integrated approach also provides an effective V&V technique for the MDA

Especificación de Componentes MDA para Patrones de Diseño

The Model Driven Architecture (MDA) promotes the use of models and model transformations for developing software systems. The idea behind MDA is to manage the evolution from Platform Independent Models to Platform Specific Models that can be used to generate executable components and applications. The concepts of metamodels and metamodel-based model transformations are critical in MDA. In this paper, we analyze how to specify reusable components for design patterns in a way that fit MDA very closely. To define families of reusable components we describe a “megamodel” that refers to metamodels and model transformations organized into an architectural framework. We propose an integration of formal and semiformal specifications to specify MDA mega-components. Our formalization focuses on interoperability of formal languages in Model Driven Development (MDD).La Arquitectura Model Driven (MDA) promueve el uso de modelos y transformaciones de modelos para desarrollar sistemas de software. La idea central de MDA es manejar la evolución de modelos independientes de la plataforma a modelos específicos a la plataforma que pueden ser usados para generar componentes ejecutables y aplicaciones. En el contexto MDA los metamodelos y las transformaciones basadas en metamodelos son esenciales. En este artículo describimos como especificar componentes para patrones de diseño alineados a MDA. Para definir familias de componentes reusables presentamos un “megamodelo” que integra metamodelos y refinamientos organizados en un framework arquitectural. Proponemos integrar especificaciones semiformales y formales para especificar mega-componentes MDA. Nuestra formalización se centra en la interoperabilidad de lenguajes formales en el desarrollo Model Driven (MDD)

A model driven approach to building implementable model transformations

The OMG's Model Driven Architecture (MDA) initiative has been the focus of much attention in both academia and industry, due to its promise of more rapid and consistent software development through the increased use of models. In order for MDA to reach its full potential, the ability to manipulate and transform models { most obviously from the Platform Independent Model (PIM) to the Platform Specifc Models (PSM) { is vital. Recognizing this need, the OMG issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) largely concerned with finding a suitable mechanism for transforming models. This paper outlines the relevant background material, summarizes the approach taken by the QVT-Partners (to whom the authors belong), presents a non-trivial example using the QVT-Partners approach, and finally sketches out what the future holds for model transformations

A Pattern Based Model Driven Approach to Model Transformations

The OMG's Model Driven Architecture (MDA) initiative has been the focus of much attention in both academia and industry, due to its promise of more rapid and consistent software development through the increased use of models. In order for MDA to reach its full potential, the ability to manipulate and transform models { most obviously from the Platform Independent Model (PIM) to the Platform Speci_c Models (PSM) { is vital. Recognizing this need, the OMG issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) largely concerned with ending a suitable mechanism for transforming models. This paper outlines the relevant background material, summarizes the approach taken by the QVT-Partners (to whom the authors belong), presents a non-trivial example using the QVT-Partners approach, and finally sketches out what the future holds for model transformations

UML to XML-Schema Transformation: a Case Study in Managing Alternative Model Transformations in MDA

In a Model Driven Architecture (MDA) software development process, models are\ud repeatedly transformed to other models in order to finally achieve a set of models with enough details to implement a system. Generally, there are multiple ways to transform one model into another model. Alternative target models differ in their quality properties and the selection of a particular model is determined on the basis of specific requirements. Software engineers must be able to identify, compare and select the appropriate transformations within the given set of requirements. The current transformation languages used for describing and executing model transformations only provide means to specify the transformations but do not help to identify and select from the alternative transformations. In this paper we propose a process and a set of techniques for constructing a transformation space for a given transformation problem. The process uses a source model, its meta-model and the meta-model of the target as input and generates a transformation space. Every element in that space represents a transformation that produces a result that is an instance of the target meta-model. The requirements that must be fulfilled by the result are captured and represented in a quality model. We explain our approach using an illustrative example for transforming a platform independent model expressed in UML into platform specific models that represent XML schemas. A particular quality model of extensibility is presented in the paper