Integration of an action language via UML action semantics

Abstract

Transformations play a central role in MDA. A desirable goal of MDA is to obtain the complete source code by model transformations. Currently, it is hard to achieve this goal using UML models because UML's standard graphical notation alone cannot express the detailed behavior of operations and transitions. Action languages are a means of addressing this shortcoming. The paper investigates different means of integration of action languages in an MDA development environment. The focus is on tool interoperability and on the amenability of the representation of the action language to model transformations. We identify UML Action Semantics as a promising candidate representation for action languages and implement an integration of ABL, an action language for business logic, using this approach. This integration achieves 100% code generation for a small example, but our evaluation shows that the use of UML Action Semantics is not the most practical approach. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.