research-article

Metamodel specialization for graphical modeling language support

Authors:

Audris Kalnins and

Janis BarzdinsAuthors Info & Claims

MODELS '16: Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE 19th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems

October 2016

Pages 103 - 112

https://doi.org/10.1145/2976767.2976779

Published: 02 October 2016 Publication History

Abstract

Most of current modeling languages are based on graphical diagrams. The concrete graphical syntax of these languages typically is defined informally -- by text and diagram examples. Only recently, starting from UML 2.5, a formalism is offered for defining the graphical syntax of UML. This formalism is based on Diagram Definition standard by OMG, where the main emphasis is on enabling diagram interchange between different tools implementing the given language. While this is crucial for standardized languages such as UML, this aspect is not so important for domain specific languages. In this paper an approach is offered for simple direct definition of concrete graphical syntax by means of metamodels. Metamodels are typically used for language definition, but mainly the MOF-inspired approach via metametamodel instantiation is used. We offer an alternative approach based on core metamodel specialization, which leads to a more direct and understandable definition, staying at the same meta-layer. In addition, our approach permits a natural extension -- a facility for graphical editor definition for the given language, which is vital in the world of DSLs. In contrast to most DSL development platforms which are based on abstract syntax metamodel of the language and a mapping to graphics our facility is based directly on the graphical syntax.

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Cited By

Celms EBarzdins JKalnins ASprogis AGrasmanis MRikacovs SBarzdins P(2020)Towards DSL for DL Lifecycle Data ManagementDatabases and Information Systems10.1007/978-3-030-57672-1_16(205-218)Online publication date: 12-Aug-2020
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57672-1_16
Fatehah MMezhuyev VAl-Emran M(2020)A Systematic Review of Metamodelling in Software EngineeringRecent Advances in Intelligent Systems and Smart Applications10.1007/978-3-030-47411-9_1(3-27)Online publication date: 27-Jun-2020
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47411-9_1
Kalnins ABarzdins J(2019)Metamodel specialization for graphical language supportSoftware and Systems Modeling (SoSyM)10.1007/s10270-018-0668-318:3(1699-1735)Online publication date: 18-Jul-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10270-018-0668-3

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cover image ACM Conferences

MODELS '16: Proceedings of the ACM/IEEE 19th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems

October 2016

414 pages

ISBN:9781450343213

DOI:10.1145/2976767

General Chairs:
Benoit Baudry
Inria, France
,
Benoit Combemale
Inria, France
,
Program Chairs:
Jörg Kienzle
McGill University, Montreal, Canada
,
Alexander Pretschner
Technical University Munich, Germany

Copyright © 2016 ACM.

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Published: 02 October 2016

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MODELS '16: ACM/IEEE 19th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems

October 2 - 7, 2016

Saint-malo, France

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Cited By

Celms EBarzdins JKalnins ASprogis AGrasmanis MRikacovs SBarzdins P(2020)Towards DSL for DL Lifecycle Data ManagementDatabases and Information Systems10.1007/978-3-030-57672-1_16(205-218)Online publication date: 12-Aug-2020
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57672-1_16
Fatehah MMezhuyev VAl-Emran M(2020)A Systematic Review of Metamodelling in Software EngineeringRecent Advances in Intelligent Systems and Smart Applications10.1007/978-3-030-47411-9_1(3-27)Online publication date: 27-Jun-2020
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47411-9_1
Kalnins ABarzdins J(2019)Metamodel specialization for graphical language supportSoftware and Systems Modeling (SoSyM)10.1007/s10270-018-0668-318:3(1699-1735)Online publication date: 18-Jul-2019
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10270-018-0668-3

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