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By-Example Model Transformation Method for Model-Driven Method Engineering

Ranjkesh, Zeinab | 2013

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 45295 (19)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Computer Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Ramsin, Raman
  7. Abstract:
  8. It has become increasingly important to be able to adapt or construct a software development process based on the specific characteristics of the development project at hand; this has resulted in the emergence of a new branch of study called Situational Method Engineering (SME). Compared with Software Engineering, Situational Method Engineering has not suitably matured, in that many of its deficiencies have not been properly addressed yet; SME approaches are especially deficient in support for modeling, portability, and automation. Model-Driven Development (MDD) has been effectively used for enhancing portability and automation in Software Engineering, and it is also considered as a promising approach for resolving the same issues in SME. According to the approach prescribed by MDD, the target product is generated through enrichment and transformation of models. Even though MDD has originated in the context of Software Engineering, previous studies show that it can also be effective and advantageous in the context of SME.
    The traditional way to implement model transformation is to use executable model transformation languages to specify the transformation rules and automate the transformation process. However, the use of model transformation languages may present certain challenges to the users, especially those who are not familiar with the transformation language used. Model Transformation By Example (MTBE) aims to address these challenges by enabling users to define a prototypical set of mappings between the source and target model-instance languages; the metamodel-level transformation rules can then be inferred and generated semi-automatically. Thus, users work directly at the model instance level and configure the mappings without knowing any details about the metamodel definition or the hidden concepts.
    The main objective of this research project is the development of a Model-Driven Method Engineering (MDME) framework for applying MTBE techniques for transforming the process models produced in SME. To this aim, previous research efforts conducted on applying MDD approaches in SME have been studied. Existing MTBE techniques have been scrutinized in detail, with the ultimate aim of determining their potential for use in the context of SME. A MDD framework has been proposed which adapts MTBE techniques for application to the process models used in SME. Ultimately, the validity of the proposed framework and transformation methods has been assessed based on special evaluation criteria, and also through a case study.
    The criteria-based evaluations show that the proposed approach has evident advantages over existing approaches. Moreover, applying the proposed approach on a realistic case study has demonstrated its applicability to real-world projects. This research has had other achievements as well, including the implementation of transformation rules in the MediniQVT model transformation tool. The method engineer can gradually construct the method model by executing the transformation rules via the tool
  9. Keywords:
  10. Situational Method Engineering ; Process Modeling ; Model Driven Development ; Models Transformation

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