Use of Models in Software Engineering

Abstract

The Model Driven Architecture aims at the integration of different modeling languages, artifacts and tools in a unified technical space. Pre-existing development methodologies based on Domain Specific Languages (DSL) require a complex process to benefit from this integration. After a MOF metamodel for the DSL is defined, there is no standard methodology to move legacy models and tools to the new architecture. This paper proposes a general model-driven integration procedure for pre-MDA DSLs. The procedure, given the definition of suitable model transformations, is completely automatic. The proposed framework is fully implemented, in a way independent of the specific DSL that must be transformed. As a case study, a toolsuite based on WebML, a DSL for designing Web applications, is bridged to MDA.