Generating assertion code from OCL: A transformational approach based on similarities of implementation languages

Abstract

The Object Constraint Language (OCL) carries a platform independent characteristic allowing it to be decoupled from implementation details, and therefore it is widely applied in model transformations used by model-driven development techniques. However, OCL can be found tremendously useful in the implementation phase aiding assertion code generation and allowing system verification. Yet, taking full advantage of OCL without destroying its platform independence is a difficult task. This paper proposes an approach for generating assertion code from OCL constraints by using a model transformation technique to abstract language specific details away from OCL high-level concepts, showing wide applicability of model transformation techniques. We take advantage of structural similarities of implementation languages to describe a rewriting framework, which is used to easily and flexibly reformulate OCL constraints into any target language, making them executable on any platform. A tool is implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.