Graph transforming java data

Abstract

This paper introduces an approach for adding graph transformation-based functionality to existing Java programs. The approach relies on a set of annotations to identify the intended graph structure, as well as on user methods to manipulate that structure, within the user's own Java class declarations. Other ingredients are a custom transformation language, called Chart, and a compiler from Chart to Java. The generated Java code runs against the pre-existing, annotated code. The advantage of the approach is that it allows any Java program to be enhanced, non invasively, with declarative graph rules, improving clarity, conciseness and verifiability. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.