On the Unification of Megamodels

Through the more and more widespread application of model-driven engineering (MDE) and the increasing diversity in applied modeling paradigms within single projects, there is an increasing need to capture not only models in isolation but also their relations.This paper is a survey on techniques capturing such relations, such as megamodels or macromodels, based on existing scientific literature. Therefore, we consider various definitions of these techniques. We further examine characteristics of the different techniques.We will propose a unified core definition of a megamodel that captures the core properties of megamodels and which can be extended to the needs of the different applications of megamodels.Finally, we give an outlook on arising application areas for megamodels

Megamodelling and Etymology

Is a model of a model, a metamodel? Is the relational model a metamodel? Is it a model? What is a component metamodel? Is it a model of a component model? The word MODEL is subject to a lot of debates in Model Driven Engineering. Add the notion of metamodel on top of it and you will just enter what some people call the Meta-muddle. Recently megamodels have been proposed to avoid the meta-muddle. This approach is very promising but it does not solve however the primary problem. That is, even a simple use of the word Model could lead to misunderstanding and confusion. This paper tackles this problem from its very source: the polysemic nature of the word MODEL. The evolution and semantic variations of the word MODEL are modelled from many different perspectives. This papers tells how the prefix MED in indo-european has lead, five millenniums after, to the acronym MDE, and this via the word MODEL. Based on an extensive study of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, and etymological sources, it is shown that the many senses of the word MODEL can be clustered into four groups, namely model-as-representation, model-as-example, model-as-type, and model-as-mold. All these groups are fundamental to understand the real nature of Model Driven Engineering. Megamodels and Etymology are indeed keys to avoid the Meta-muddle.on

Automatizing the Evaluation of Model Matching Systems

International audienceModel-Driven Engineering (MDE) and the Semantic Web are valuable paradigms. This paper sketches how to use a scientific and technical result around MDE in the Semantic Web. The work proposes a mechanism to automatize the evaluation of model matching algorithms. The mechanism involves megamodeling and a Domain Specific Language named AML (AtlanMod Matching Language). AML allows to implement matching algorithms in a straightforward way. We present how to adapt the mechanism to the ontology context, for example, to the Ontology Alignment Evaluation Initiative (OAEI)

Automatizing the Evaluation of Model Matching Systems

International audienceModel-Driven Engineering (MDE) and the Semantic Web are valuable paradigms. This paper sketches how to use a scientific and technical result around MDE in the Semantic Web. The work proposes a mechanism to automatize the evaluation of model matching algorithms. The mechanism involves megamodeling and a Domain Specific Language named AML (AtlanMod Matching Language). AML allows to implement matching algorithms in a straightforward way. We present how to adapt the mechanism to the ontology context, for example, to the Ontology Alignment Evaluation Initiative (OAEI)

Extending AMMA for Supporting Dynamic Semantics Specifications of DSLs

Over the last years, Model Driven Engineering platforms evolved from fixed metamodel tools to systems with variable metamodels. This enables dealing with a variety of Domain Specific Languages (DSLs). These generic platforms are increasingly adopted to solve problems like code generation. However, these environments are often limited to syntax definitions. The AMMA platform conceives DSLs as collections of coordinated models defined using a set of core DSLs. For broadening the approach to semantics definition, AMMA should thus be extended. The paper presents an extension of the core DSLs of AMMA to specify the dynamic semantics of a range of DSLs by means of Abstract State Machines. Thus, DSLs can be defined not only according to their abstract and concrete syntaxes but also to their semantics in a uniform and systematic way. The approach is validated by means of the semantic bootstrap of the ATL transformation language

Modeling Modeling Modeling

International audienceModel-driven engineering and model-based approaches have permeated all branches of software engineering to the point that it seems that we are using models, as Molière's Monsieur Jourdain was using prose, without knowing it. At the heart of modeling, there is a relation that we establish to represent something by something else. In this paper we review various definitions of models and relations between them. Then, we define a canonical set of relations that can be used to express various kinds of representation relations and we propose a graphical concrete syntax to represent these relations. We also define a structural definition for this language in the form of a metamodel and a formal interpretation using Prolog. Hence, this paper is a contribution towards a theory of modeling

Enabling the Reuse of Stored Model Transformations Through Annotations

International audienceWith the increasing adoption of MDE, model transformations , one of its core concepts together with metamodeling, stand out as a valuable asset. Therefore, a mechanism to annotate and store existing model transformations appears as a critical need for their efficient exploitation and reuse. Unfortunately, although several reuse mechanisms have been proposed for software artifacts in general and models in particular , none of them is specially tailored to the domain of model transformations. In order to fill this gap, we present here such a mechanism. Our approach is composed by two elements 1) a new DSL specially conceived for describing model transformations in terms of their functional and non-functional properties 2) a semi-automatic process for annotating and querying (repositories of) model transformations using as criteria the properties of our DSL. We validate the feasibility of our approach through a prototype implementation that integrates our approach in a GitHub repository

A survey on engineering approaches for self-adaptive systems (extended version)

The complexity of information systems is increasing in recent years, leading to increased effort for maintenance and configuration. Self-adaptive systems (SASs) address this issue. Due to new computing trends, such as pervasive computing, miniaturization of IT leads to mobile devices with the emerging need for context adaptation. Therefore, it is beneficial that devices are able to adapt context. Hence, we propose to extend the definition of SASs and include context adaptation. This paper presents a taxonomy of self-adaptation and a survey on engineering SASs. Based on the taxonomy and the survey, we motivate a new perspective on SAS including context adaptation

Industrial-strength Rule Interoperability using Model Driven Engineering

Model Driven Engineering (MDE) is rapidly maturing and is being deployed in several situations. We report here on an experiment conducted in the context of ILOG, a leader in the development of Business Rule Management Systems (BRMS). BRMSs aim at enabling business users automating their business policies. There is a growing number of BRMS supporting different languages, but also a lack of tools for bridging them. In this paper, we present an approach based on MDE techniques for bridging rule languages; the solution has been fully implemented and tested on different BRMS. The success of the experiment has led to the development of a significant number of model transformations. At the same time, this deployment has shown new problems arising from the management of a high number of artifacts. We discuss the positive assessment of MDE in this field, but also the need to address the complexity generated