On some properties of parameterized model application

Abstract

Designing Information Systems (IS) is a complex task that involves numerous aspects, being Functional or not. A way to achieve this is to consider models as generic pieces of design in order to build a complete IS. Model composition provides a way to combine models and model parameterization allows the reuse of models in multiple contexts. In this paper, we focus on the use of parameterized models in model driven engineering processes. We outline the needs to compose parameterized models and apply them to a system according to alternative and coherent ordering rules. Such building processes raise open issues: Is the result influenced by the order of applications ? Can we compose independent parameterized models ? Is it possible to define composition chains and find equivalent ones that express the same resulting model ? These requirements are formalized through an apply operator. This operator guarantees properties which can help in the formulation of model driven system construction methodologies. Finally, we briefly describe a modelling tool that supports processes based on this operator. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.