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An institution theory of formal meta-modelling in graphically extended BNF

Published: 01 February 2012 Publication History

Abstract

Meta-modelling plays an important role in model driven software development. In this paper, a graphic extension of BNF (GEBNF) is proposed to define the abstract syntax of graphic modelling languages. From a GEBNF syntax definition, a formal predicate logic language can be induced so that meta-modelling can be performed formally by specifying a predicate on the domain of syntactically valid models. In this paper, we investigate the theoretical foundation of this meta-modelling approach. We formally define the semantics of GEBNF and its induced predicate logic languages, then apply Goguen and Burstall's institution theory to prove that they form a sound and valid formal specification language for meta-modelling.

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    Published In

    cover image Frontiers of Computer Science in China
    Frontiers of Computer Science in China  Volume 6, Issue 1
    February 2012
    130 pages

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    Springer-Verlag

    Berlin, Heidelberg

    Publication History

    Published: 01 February 2012

    Author Tags

    1. abstract syntax
    2. formal logic
    3. graphic extension of BNF (GEBNF)
    4. institution
    5. meta-modelling
    6. modelling languages
    7. semantics

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