Bidirectional method patterns for language editor migration

Abstract

Language editors play an important role in a Model-Driven Engineering context, as they enable the productive use of Domain Specific Languages (DSLs). To support language editor development, numerous language editor frameworks exist including extensible UML tools such as Enterprise Architect and textual language editor frameworks such as Xtext. When maintaining DSL-based software systems, language editor migration is an important task, which can be well supported with bidirectional transformation (bx) languages. There currently exists, however, no systematic guidelines describing why, when, and how bx languages can be leveraged for language editor migration. In this paper, therefore, we analyse the problem and solution domains for language editor migration, identifying and describing a set of reusable solution strategies that support assessing the potential and advantages of using bx languages in this context.