MODELS 2015 – Author Index |
Contents -
Abstracts -
Authors
|
A B C D E F G H K L M N O P R S T V W Y Z
Aalst, Wil M. P. van der |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Process Mining in Software ..."
Process Mining in Software Systems: Discovering Real-Life Business Transactions and Process Models from Distributed Systems
Maikel Leemans and Wil M. P. van der Aalst (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands) This paper presents a novel reverse engineering technique for obtaining real-life event logs from distributed systems. This allows us to analyze the operational processes of software systems under real-life conditions, and use process mining techniques to obtain precise and formal models. Hence, the work can be positioned in-between reverse engineering and process mining. We present a formal definition, implementation and an instrumentation strategy based the joinpoint-pointcut model. Two case studies are used to evaluate our approach. These concrete examples demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of our approach. @InProceedings{MODELS15p44, author = {Maikel Leemans and Wil M. P. van der Aalst}, title = {Process Mining in Software Systems: Discovering Real-Life Business Transactions and Process Models from Distributed Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {44--53}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Almorsy, Mohamed |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Integrating Goal-Oriented ..."
Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link
Tuong Huan Nguyen, John Grundy, and Mohamed Almorsy (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia) Combining goal-oriented and use case modeling has been shown as an effective method of requirements engineering. To ensure the quality of such modeled artifacts, a conceptual foundation is needed to govern the process of determining what types of artifacts to be modeled, and how they should be specified and analyzed for 3Cs problems (completeness, consistency and correctness). However, such a foundation is missing in current goal-use case integration approaches. In this paper, we present GUIMeta, a meta-model, to address this problem. GUIMeta consists of three layers. The artifact layer defines the semantics and classification of artifacts and their relationships. The specification layer offers specification rules for each artifact class. The ontology layer allows semantics to be integrated into the entire model. Our promising evaluation shows the suitability of GUIMeta in modeling goals and use cases. @InProceedings{MODELS15p328, author = {Tuong Huan Nguyen and John Grundy and Mohamed Almorsy}, title = {Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {328--337}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Amálio, Nuno |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation ..."
Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE
Nuno Amálio, Juan de Lara , and Esther Guerra (University of York, UK; Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes models throughout development. However, models may become large and unwieldy even for small to medium-sized systems. This paper tackles the MDE challenges of model complexity and scalability. It proposes Fragmenta, a theory of modular design that breaks down overall models into fragments that can be put together to build meaningful wholes, in contrast to classical MDE approaches that are essentially monolithic. The theory is based on an algebraic description of models, fragments and clusters based on graphs and morphisms. The paper's novelties include: (i) a mathematical treatment of fragments and a seaming mechanism of proxies to enable inter-fragment referencing, (ii) fragmentation strategies, which prescribe a fragmentation structure to model instances, (iii) Fragmenta's support for both top-down and bottom-up design, and (iv) our formally proved result that shows that inheritance hierarchies remain well-formed (acyclic) globally when fragments are composed provided some local fragment constraints are met. @InProceedings{MODELS15p106, author = {Nuno Amálio and Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra}, title = {Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {106--115}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Atkinson, Colin |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Unifying Approach to Connections ..."
A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling
Colin Atkinson, Ralph Gerbig, and Thomas Kühne (University of Mannheim, Germany; Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) Capturing relationships between concepts in a domain is as important as capturing the concepts themselves. Modeling languages reflect this by providing connections with rich semantics, such as associations and links, thus providing a key advantage over approaches that support relationships with simple references only. While connections for two-level modeling (e.g. in the UML) have enjoyed a stable design for a considerable time, the same cannot be said for connections in multi-level modeling languages. As interest in multi-level modeling grows, it is important to provide a comprehensive design for connections that not only adheres to multi-level principles such as level-agnosticism and explicit level organization, but also supports deep characterization, i.e., the ability to specify level content beyond one level boundary. In this paper we propose a unifying conceptual model for connections whose expressiveness and scalability does not come at the cost of concept proliferation. @InProceedings{MODELS15p216, author = {Colin Atkinson and Ralph Gerbig and Thomas Kühne}, title = {A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {216--225}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Briand, Lionel C. |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Model-Based Framework for ..."
A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies
Ghanem Soltana, Nicolas Sannier, Mehrdad Sabetzadeh, and Lionel C. Briand (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Legal policy simulation is an important decision-support tool in domains such as taxation. The primary goal of legal policy simulation is predicting how changes in the law affect measures of interest, e.g., revenue. Currently, legal policies are simulated via a combination of spreadsheets and software code. This poses a validation challenge both due to complexity reasons and due to legal experts lacking the expertise to understand software code. A further challenge is that representative data for simulation may be unavailable, thus necessitating a data generator. We develop a framework for legal policy simulation that is aimed at addressing these challenges. The framework uses models for specifying both legal policies and the probabilistic characteristics of the underlying population. We devise an automated algorithm for simulation data generation. We evaluate our framework through a case study on Luxembourg's Tax Law. @InProceedings{MODELS15p70, author = {Ghanem Soltana and Nicolas Sannier and Mehrdad Sabetzadeh and Lionel C. Briand}, title = {A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {70--79}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Burgueño, Loli |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Employing Classifying Terms ..."
Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations
Martin Gogolla, Antonio Vallecillo, Loli Burgueño, and Frank Hilken (University of Bremen, Germany; University of Málaga, Spain) This contribution proposes a new technique for developing test cases for UML and OCL models. The technique is based on an approach that automatically constructs object models for class models enriched by OCL constraints. By guiding the construction process through so-called classifying terms, the built test cases in form of object models are classified into equivalence classes. A classifying term can be an arbitrary OCL term on the class model that calculates for an object model a characteristic value. From each equivalence class of object models with identical characteristic values one representative is chosen. The constructed test cases behave significantly different with regard to the selected classifying term. By building few diverse object models, properties of the UML and OCL model can be explored effectively. The technique is applied for automatically constructing relevant source model test cases for model transformations between a source and target metamodel. @InProceedings{MODELS15p312, author = {Martin Gogolla and Antonio Vallecillo and Loli Burgueño and Frank Hilken}, title = {Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {312--321}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Caivano, Danilo |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "On the Use of UML Documentation ..."
On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry
Ana M. Fernández-Sáez, Danilo Caivano , Marcela Genero, and Michel R. V. Chaudron (University of Castile–La Mancha, Spain; University of Bari, Italy; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) This paper presents the findings of a survey on the use of UML in software maintenance, carried out with 178 professionals working on software maintenance projects in 12 different countries. As part of long-term research we are carrying out to investigate the benefits of using UML in software maintenance, the main objectives of this survey are: 1) to explore whether UML diagrams are being used in software industry maintenance projects; 2) to see what UML diagrams are the most effective for software maintenance; 3) to find out what the perceived benefits of using UML diagrams are; and 4) to contextualize the kind of companies that use UML documentation in software maintenance. Some complementary results based on the way the documentation is used (whether it is UML-based or not) during software maintenance are also presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p292, author = {Ana M. Fernández-Sáez and Danilo Caivano and Marcela Genero and Michel R. V. Chaudron}, title = {On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {292--301}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Chaudron, Michel R. V. |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "On the Use of UML Documentation ..."
On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry
Ana M. Fernández-Sáez, Danilo Caivano , Marcela Genero, and Michel R. V. Chaudron (University of Castile–La Mancha, Spain; University of Bari, Italy; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) This paper presents the findings of a survey on the use of UML in software maintenance, carried out with 178 professionals working on software maintenance projects in 12 different countries. As part of long-term research we are carrying out to investigate the benefits of using UML in software maintenance, the main objectives of this survey are: 1) to explore whether UML diagrams are being used in software industry maintenance projects; 2) to see what UML diagrams are the most effective for software maintenance; 3) to find out what the perceived benefits of using UML diagrams are; and 4) to contextualize the kind of companies that use UML documentation in software maintenance. Some complementary results based on the way the documentation is used (whether it is UML-based or not) during software maintenance are also presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p292, author = {Ana M. Fernández-Sáez and Danilo Caivano and Marcela Genero and Michel R. V. Chaudron}, title = {On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {292--301}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Chechik, Marsha |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enriching Megamodel Management ..."
Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators
Rick Salay, Sahar Kokaly, Alessio Di Sandro, and Marsha Chechik (University of Toronto, Canada; McMaster University, Canada) Megamodels are often used in MDE to describe collections of models and relationships between them. Typical collection-based operations -- map, reduce, filter -- cannot be applied directly to megamodels since these operators need to take relationships between models into consideration. In this paper, we propose adapted versions of these operators, demonstrating them on four megamodeling scenarios. We then analyze their applicability for handling industrial-sized megamodels. Finally, we report on a reference implementation of the operators and experimental results using it. @InProceedings{MODELS15p236, author = {Rick Salay and Sahar Kokaly and Alessio Di Sandro and Marsha Chechik}, title = {Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {236--245}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Combemale, Benoit |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Behavioral Coordination ..."
A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)
Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen, Julien DeAntoni, Benoit Combemale , and Frédéric Mallet (University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France; INRIA, France; University of Rennes 1, France) The design of complex systems involves various, possibly heterogeneous, structural and behavioral models. In model-driven engineering, the coordination of behavioral models to produce a single integrated model is necessary to provide support for validation and verification. Indeed, it allows system designers to understand and validate the global and emerging behavior of the system. However, the manual coordination of models is tedious and error-prone, and current approaches to automate the coordination are bound to a fixed set of coordination patterns. In this paper, we propose a Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL) to reify coordination patterns between specific domains by using coordination operators between the Domain-Specific Modeling Languages used in these domains. Those operators are then used to automate the coordination of models conforming to these languages. We illustrate the use of BCOoL with the definition of coordination operators between timed finite state machines and activity diagrams. @InProceedings{MODELS15p186, author = {Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen and Julien DeAntoni and Benoit Combemale and Frédéric Mallet}, title = {A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {186--195}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video |
|
Conte, Tayana |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Controlled Experiment with ..."
A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques
Natasha M. Costa Valentim, Jacilane Rabelo, Ana Carolina Oran, Tayana Conte, and Sabrina Marczak (Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil; PUCRS, Brazil) A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1—Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1. @InProceedings{MODELS15p206, author = {Natasha M. Costa Valentim and Jacilane Rabelo and Ana Carolina Oran and Tayana Conte and Sabrina Marczak}, title = {A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {206--215}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Cordy, James R. |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Identification of Simulink ..."
Identification of Simulink Model Antipattern Instances using Model Clone Detection
Matthew Stephan and James R. Cordy (Miami University, USA; Queen's University, Canada) One challenge facing the Model-Driven Engineering community is the need for model quality assurance. Specifically, there should be better facilities for analyzing models automatically. One measure of quality is the presence or absence of good and bad properties, such as patterns and antipatterns, respectively. We elaborate on and validate our earlier idea of detecting patterns in model-based systems using model clone detection by devising a Simulink antipattern instance detector. We chose Simulink because it is prevalent in industry, has mature model clone detection techniques, and interests our industrial partners. We demonstrate our technique using near-miss cross-clone detection to find instances of Simulink antipatterns derived from the literature in four sets of public Simulink projects. We present our detection results, highlight interesting examples, and discuss potential improvements to our approach. We hope this work provides a first step in helping practitioners improve Simulink model quality and further research in the area. @InProceedings{MODELS15p276, author = {Matthew Stephan and James R. Cordy}, title = {Identification of Simulink Model Antipattern Instances using Model Clone Detection}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {276--285}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Czarnecki, Krzysztof |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Performance Prediction upon ..."
Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software
Aymen Ketata, Carlos Moreno, Sebastian Fischmeister, Jia Liang, and Krzysztof Czarnecki (University of Waterloo, Canada) Changing the development environment can have severe impacts on the system behavior such as the execution-time performance. Since it can be costly to migrate a software application, engineers would like to predict the performance parameters of the application under the new environment with as little effort as possible. In this paper, we concentrate on model-driven development and provide a methodology to estimate the execution-time performance of application models under different toolchains. Our approach has low cost compared to the migration effort of an entire application. As part of the approach, we provide methods for characterizing model-driven applications, an algorithm for generating application-specific microbenchmarks, and results on using different methods for estimating the performance. In the work, we focus on SCADE as the development toolchain and use a Cruise Control and a Water Level application as case studies to confirm the technical feasibility and viability of our technique. @InProceedings{MODELS15p302, author = {Aymen Ketata and Carlos Moreno and Sebastian Fischmeister and Jia Liang and Krzysztof Czarnecki}, title = {Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {302--311}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Das, Tuhin Kanti |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "State Machine Antipatterns ..."
State Machine Antipatterns for UML-RT
Tuhin Kanti Das and Juergen Dingel (Queen's University, Canada) Software development guidelines are a set of rules which can help improve the quality of software. These rules are defined on the basis of experience gained by the software development community over time. Software antipatterns are a powerful and effective form of guidelines used for the identification of bad design choices and development practices that often lead to poor-quality software. This paper introduces a set of seven state machine antipatterns for the model-based development of real time embedded software systems. Each of these antipatterns is described with a pair of examples: one for the antipattern itself and a second one for improved, refactored solution. Keywords: UML-RT, Model quality, Antipatterns, State machines, Model-driven development, Model refactoring, Quality attributes, Embedded systems, Real-time systems. @InProceedings{MODELS15p54, author = {Tuhin Kanti Das and Juergen Dingel}, title = {State Machine Antipatterns for UML-RT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {54--63}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
DeAntoni, Julien |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Behavioral Coordination ..."
A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)
Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen, Julien DeAntoni, Benoit Combemale , and Frédéric Mallet (University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France; INRIA, France; University of Rennes 1, France) The design of complex systems involves various, possibly heterogeneous, structural and behavioral models. In model-driven engineering, the coordination of behavioral models to produce a single integrated model is necessary to provide support for validation and verification. Indeed, it allows system designers to understand and validate the global and emerging behavior of the system. However, the manual coordination of models is tedious and error-prone, and current approaches to automate the coordination are bound to a fixed set of coordination patterns. In this paper, we propose a Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL) to reify coordination patterns between specific domains by using coordination operators between the Domain-Specific Modeling Languages used in these domains. Those operators are then used to automate the coordination of models conforming to these languages. We illustrate the use of BCOoL with the definition of coordination operators between timed finite state machines and activity diagrams. @InProceedings{MODELS15p186, author = {Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen and Julien DeAntoni and Benoit Combemale and Frédéric Mallet}, title = {A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {186--195}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video |
|
De Lara, Juan |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations ..."
Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations
Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, Esther Guerra , and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) The correctness of model transformations is key to obtain reliable MDE solutions. However, current transformation tools provide limited support to statically detect and correct errors. This way, the identification of errors and their correction are mostly manual activities. Our aim is to improve this situation. Based on a static analyser for ATL model transformations which we have previously built, we present a method and a system to propose quick fixes for transformation errors. The analyser is based on a combination of program analysis and constraint solving, and our quick fix generation technique makes use of the analyser features to provide a range of fixes, notably some non-trivial, transformation-specific ones. Our approach integrates seamlessly with the ATL editor. We provide an evaluation based on an existing faulty transformation, and automatically generated transformation mutants, showing overall good results. @InProceedings{MODELS15p146, author = {Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Esther Guerra and Juan de Lara}, title = {Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {146--155}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation ..." Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE Nuno Amálio, Juan de Lara , and Esther Guerra (University of York, UK; Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes models throughout development. However, models may become large and unwieldy even for small to medium-sized systems. This paper tackles the MDE challenges of model complexity and scalability. It proposes Fragmenta, a theory of modular design that breaks down overall models into fragments that can be put together to build meaningful wholes, in contrast to classical MDE approaches that are essentially monolithic. The theory is based on an algebraic description of models, fragments and clusters based on graphs and morphisms. The paper's novelties include: (i) a mathematical treatment of fragments and a seaming mechanism of proxies to enable inter-fragment referencing, (ii) fragmentation strategies, which prescribe a fragmentation structure to model instances, (iii) Fragmenta's support for both top-down and bottom-up design, and (iv) our formally proved result that shows that inheritance hierarchies remain well-formed (acyclic) globally when fragments are composed provided some local fragment constraints are met. @InProceedings{MODELS15p106, author = {Nuno Amálio and Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra}, title = {Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {106--115}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven ..." A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering Juan de Lara , Esther Guerra , and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering is founded on the ability to create and process models conformant to a meta-model. Hence, meta-model classes are used in two ways: as templates to create objects, and as classifiers for them. While these two aspects are inherently tied in most meta-modelling approaches, in this paper, we discuss the benefits of their decoupling. Thus, we rely on standard mechanisms for object creation and propose a-posteriori typing as a means to reclassify objects and enable multiple, partial, dynamic typings. This approach enhances flexibility, permitting unanticipated reutilization (as existing model management operations defined for a meta-model can be reused with other models once they get reclassified), as well as model transformation by reclassification. We show the underlying theory behind the introduced concepts, and illustrate its applicability using our MetaDepth meta-modelling tool. @InProceedings{MODELS15p156, author = {Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado}, title = {A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {156--165}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Development ..." Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages Ana Pescador, Antonio Garmendia , Esther Guerra , Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes the use of models to conduct all phases of software development in an automated way. Models are frequently defined using Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs), which many times need to be developed for the domain at hand. However, while constructing DSMLs is a recurring activity in MDE, there is scarce support for gathering, reusing and enacting knowledge for their design and implementation. This forces the development of every new DSML to start from scratch. To alleviate this problem, we propose the construction of DSMLs and their modelling environments aided by patterns which gather knowledge of specific domains, design alternatives, concrete syntax, dynamic semantics and functionality for the modelling environment. They may have associated services, realized via components. Our approach is supported by a tool that enables the construction of DSMLs through the application of patterns, and synthesizes a graphical modelling environment according to them. @InProceedings{MODELS15p166, author = {Ana Pescador and Antonio Garmendia and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Juan de Lara}, title = {Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {166--175}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Dévai, Gergely |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Textual Diagram Layout Language ..."
Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm
Balázs Gregorics, Tibor Gregorics, Gábor Ferenc Kovács, András Dobreff, and Gergely Dévai (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) Graphical diagrams are an excellent source of information for understanding models. On the other hand, editing, storing and versioning models are more efficient in textual representations. In order to combine the advantages of these two representations, diagrams have to be generated from models defined in text. The generated diagrams are usually created by autolayout algorithms based on heuristics. In this paper we argue that automatically laid out diagrams are not ideal. Instead, we propose a textual layout description language that allows users to define the arrangement of those diagram elements they consider important. The paper also presents algorithms that create diagrams according to the layout description and arrange the underspecified elements automatically. The paper reports on the implementation of the proposed layout description language as an embedded language in Java. It is used to generate class and state machine diagrams compatible with the Papyrus UML editor. @InProceedings{MODELS15p196, author = {Balázs Gregorics and Tibor Gregorics and Gábor Ferenc Kovács and András Dobreff and Gergely Dévai}, title = {Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {196--205}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Dingel, Juergen |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Incremental Symbolic Execution ..."
Incremental Symbolic Execution of Evolving State Machines
Amal Khalil and Juergen Dingel (Queen's University, Canada) This paper introduces two complementary techniques, memoization-based and dependency-based incremental symbolic execution, that aim to optimize the analysis of state machine models that undergo change. We implement the two proposed techniques on IBM Rhapsody Statecharts and present some evaluation results. @InProceedings{MODELS15p14, author = {Amal Khalil and Juergen Dingel}, title = {Incremental Symbolic Execution of Evolving State Machines}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {14--23}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "State Machine Antipatterns ..." State Machine Antipatterns for UML-RT Tuhin Kanti Das and Juergen Dingel (Queen's University, Canada) Software development guidelines are a set of rules which can help improve the quality of software. These rules are defined on the basis of experience gained by the software development community over time. Software antipatterns are a powerful and effective form of guidelines used for the identification of bad design choices and development practices that often lead to poor-quality software. This paper introduces a set of seven state machine antipatterns for the model-based development of real time embedded software systems. Each of these antipatterns is described with a pair of examples: one for the antipattern itself and a second one for improved, refactored solution. Keywords: UML-RT, Model quality, Antipatterns, State machines, Model-driven development, Model refactoring, Quality attributes, Embedded systems, Real-time systems. @InProceedings{MODELS15p54, author = {Tuhin Kanti Das and Juergen Dingel}, title = {State Machine Antipatterns for UML-RT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {54--63}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Di Sandro, Alessio |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enriching Megamodel Management ..."
Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators
Rick Salay, Sahar Kokaly, Alessio Di Sandro, and Marsha Chechik (University of Toronto, Canada; McMaster University, Canada) Megamodels are often used in MDE to describe collections of models and relationships between them. Typical collection-based operations -- map, reduce, filter -- cannot be applied directly to megamodels since these operators need to take relationships between models into consideration. In this paper, we propose adapted versions of these operators, demonstrating them on four megamodeling scenarios. We then analyze their applicability for handling industrial-sized megamodels. Finally, we report on a reference implementation of the operators and experimental results using it. @InProceedings{MODELS15p236, author = {Rick Salay and Sahar Kokaly and Alessio Di Sandro and Marsha Chechik}, title = {Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {236--245}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Dobreff, András |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Textual Diagram Layout Language ..."
Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm
Balázs Gregorics, Tibor Gregorics, Gábor Ferenc Kovács, András Dobreff, and Gergely Dévai (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) Graphical diagrams are an excellent source of information for understanding models. On the other hand, editing, storing and versioning models are more efficient in textual representations. In order to combine the advantages of these two representations, diagrams have to be generated from models defined in text. The generated diagrams are usually created by autolayout algorithms based on heuristics. In this paper we argue that automatically laid out diagrams are not ideal. Instead, we propose a textual layout description language that allows users to define the arrangement of those diagram elements they consider important. The paper also presents algorithms that create diagrams according to the layout description and arrange the underspecified elements automatically. The paper reports on the implementation of the proposed layout description language as an embedded language in Java. It is used to generate class and state machine diagrams compatible with the Papyrus UML editor. @InProceedings{MODELS15p196, author = {Balázs Gregorics and Tibor Gregorics and Gábor Ferenc Kovács and András Dobreff and Gergely Dévai}, title = {Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {196--205}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Drechsler, Rolf |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Checking Concurrent Behavior ..."
Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models
Nils Przigoda, Christoph Hilken, Robert Wille, Jan Peleska, and Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, Germany; DFKI, Germany) The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a de-facto standard for software development and, together with the Object Constraint Language (OCL), allows for a precise description of a system prior to its implementation. At the same time, these descriptions can be employed to check the consistency and, hence, the correctness of a given UML/OCL model. In the recent past, numerous (automated) approaches have been proposed for this purpose. The behavior of the systems has usually been considered by means of sequence diagrams, state machines, and activity diagrams. But with the increasing popularity of design by contract, also composite structures, classes, and operations are frequently used to describe behavior in UML/OCL. However, for these description means no solution for the validation and verification of concurrent behavior is available yet. In this work, we propose such a solution. To this end, we discuss the possible interpretations of “concurrency” which are admissible according to the common UML/OCL interpretation and, afterwards, propose a methodology which exploits solvers for SAT Modulo Theories (i.e., SMT solvers) in order to check the concurrent behavior of UML/OCL models. How to address the resulting problems is described and illustrated by means of a running example. Finally, the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. @InProceedings{MODELS15p176, author = {Nils Przigoda and Christoph Hilken and Robert Wille and Jan Peleska and Rolf Drechsler}, title = {Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {176--185}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Dumoulin, Cédric |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enhancing the Communication ..."
Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers
Yosser El Ahmar, Sébastien Gérard, Cédric Dumoulin, and Xavier Le Pallec (CEA, France; University of Lille, France) UML is defined as a visual modeling language for specifying, constructing, and documenting software intensive systems. In that context, UML diagrams play a central role in the whole software engineering process, starting from early analysis, through implementation, to maintenance. Recent surveys of UML use in industry showed that software practitioners use it on a regular basis, and particularly for communication and as a mental-assist tool. However, they also pointed out the following weaknesses: the lack of context, graphical layout problems, and the language’s inadequacy as a facility for communication between technical teams and their clients. In this paper, we present a general approach that addresses these problems by enhancing the effectiveness of UML models as a communication vehicle. Our approach is based on expressing stakeholder-specific viewpoints through the use of secondary notations. This involves the use of auxiliary visual variables (e.g., color, position, size) that are not formally specified in UML. To that end, we extend the traditional concept of layer found in many graphical editors to UML diagram editors. FlipLayers is an implementation of our approach. It is in the form of a plugin for the Papyrus modeling environment. One scenario with several case studies is presented in the paper to demonstrate the benefits of our approach and also to illustrate how to express viewpoints with FlipLayers. @InProceedings{MODELS15p64, author = {Yosser El Ahmar and Sébastien Gérard and Cédric Dumoulin and Xavier Le Pallec}, title = {Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {64--69}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
El Ahmar, Yosser |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enhancing the Communication ..."
Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers
Yosser El Ahmar, Sébastien Gérard, Cédric Dumoulin, and Xavier Le Pallec (CEA, France; University of Lille, France) UML is defined as a visual modeling language for specifying, constructing, and documenting software intensive systems. In that context, UML diagrams play a central role in the whole software engineering process, starting from early analysis, through implementation, to maintenance. Recent surveys of UML use in industry showed that software practitioners use it on a regular basis, and particularly for communication and as a mental-assist tool. However, they also pointed out the following weaknesses: the lack of context, graphical layout problems, and the language’s inadequacy as a facility for communication between technical teams and their clients. In this paper, we present a general approach that addresses these problems by enhancing the effectiveness of UML models as a communication vehicle. Our approach is based on expressing stakeholder-specific viewpoints through the use of secondary notations. This involves the use of auxiliary visual variables (e.g., color, position, size) that are not formally specified in UML. To that end, we extend the traditional concept of layer found in many graphical editors to UML diagram editors. FlipLayers is an implementation of our approach. It is in the form of a plugin for the Papyrus modeling environment. One scenario with several case studies is presented in the paper to demonstrate the benefits of our approach and also to illustrate how to express viewpoints with FlipLayers. @InProceedings{MODELS15p64, author = {Yosser El Ahmar and Sébastien Gérard and Cédric Dumoulin and Xavier Le Pallec}, title = {Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {64--69}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Etzlstorfer, Jürgen |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Fernández-Sáez, Ana M. |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "On the Use of UML Documentation ..."
On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry
Ana M. Fernández-Sáez, Danilo Caivano , Marcela Genero, and Michel R. V. Chaudron (University of Castile–La Mancha, Spain; University of Bari, Italy; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) This paper presents the findings of a survey on the use of UML in software maintenance, carried out with 178 professionals working on software maintenance projects in 12 different countries. As part of long-term research we are carrying out to investigate the benefits of using UML in software maintenance, the main objectives of this survey are: 1) to explore whether UML diagrams are being used in software industry maintenance projects; 2) to see what UML diagrams are the most effective for software maintenance; 3) to find out what the perceived benefits of using UML diagrams are; and 4) to contextualize the kind of companies that use UML documentation in software maintenance. Some complementary results based on the way the documentation is used (whether it is UML-based or not) during software maintenance are also presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p292, author = {Ana M. Fernández-Sáez and Danilo Caivano and Marcela Genero and Michel R. V. Chaudron}, title = {On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {292--301}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Fischmeister, Sebastian |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Performance Prediction upon ..."
Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software
Aymen Ketata, Carlos Moreno, Sebastian Fischmeister, Jia Liang, and Krzysztof Czarnecki (University of Waterloo, Canada) Changing the development environment can have severe impacts on the system behavior such as the execution-time performance. Since it can be costly to migrate a software application, engineers would like to predict the performance parameters of the application under the new environment with as little effort as possible. In this paper, we concentrate on model-driven development and provide a methodology to estimate the execution-time performance of application models under different toolchains. Our approach has low cost compared to the migration effort of an entire application. As part of the approach, we provide methods for characterizing model-driven applications, an algorithm for generating application-specific microbenchmarks, and results on using different methods for estimating the performance. In the work, we focus on SCADE as the development toolchain and use a Cruise Control and a Water Level application as case studies to confirm the technical feasibility and viability of our technique. @InProceedings{MODELS15p302, author = {Aymen Ketata and Carlos Moreno and Sebastian Fischmeister and Jia Liang and Krzysztof Czarnecki}, title = {Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {302--311}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Fouquet, Francois |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Garmendia, Antonio |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Development ..."
Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages
Ana Pescador, Antonio Garmendia , Esther Guerra , Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes the use of models to conduct all phases of software development in an automated way. Models are frequently defined using Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs), which many times need to be developed for the domain at hand. However, while constructing DSMLs is a recurring activity in MDE, there is scarce support for gathering, reusing and enacting knowledge for their design and implementation. This forces the development of every new DSML to start from scratch. To alleviate this problem, we propose the construction of DSMLs and their modelling environments aided by patterns which gather knowledge of specific domains, design alternatives, concrete syntax, dynamic semantics and functionality for the modelling environment. They may have associated services, realized via components. Our approach is supported by a tool that enables the construction of DSMLs through the application of patterns, and synthesizes a graphical modelling environment according to them. @InProceedings{MODELS15p166, author = {Ana Pescador and Antonio Garmendia and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Juan de Lara}, title = {Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {166--175}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Genero, Marcela |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "On the Use of UML Documentation ..."
On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry
Ana M. Fernández-Sáez, Danilo Caivano , Marcela Genero, and Michel R. V. Chaudron (University of Castile–La Mancha, Spain; University of Bari, Italy; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) This paper presents the findings of a survey on the use of UML in software maintenance, carried out with 178 professionals working on software maintenance projects in 12 different countries. As part of long-term research we are carrying out to investigate the benefits of using UML in software maintenance, the main objectives of this survey are: 1) to explore whether UML diagrams are being used in software industry maintenance projects; 2) to see what UML diagrams are the most effective for software maintenance; 3) to find out what the perceived benefits of using UML diagrams are; and 4) to contextualize the kind of companies that use UML documentation in software maintenance. Some complementary results based on the way the documentation is used (whether it is UML-based or not) during software maintenance are also presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p292, author = {Ana M. Fernández-Sáez and Danilo Caivano and Marcela Genero and Michel R. V. Chaudron}, title = {On the Use of UML Documentation in Software Maintenance: Results from a Survey in Industry}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {292--301}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Gérard, Sébastien |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enhancing the Communication ..."
Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers
Yosser El Ahmar, Sébastien Gérard, Cédric Dumoulin, and Xavier Le Pallec (CEA, France; University of Lille, France) UML is defined as a visual modeling language for specifying, constructing, and documenting software intensive systems. In that context, UML diagrams play a central role in the whole software engineering process, starting from early analysis, through implementation, to maintenance. Recent surveys of UML use in industry showed that software practitioners use it on a regular basis, and particularly for communication and as a mental-assist tool. However, they also pointed out the following weaknesses: the lack of context, graphical layout problems, and the language’s inadequacy as a facility for communication between technical teams and their clients. In this paper, we present a general approach that addresses these problems by enhancing the effectiveness of UML models as a communication vehicle. Our approach is based on expressing stakeholder-specific viewpoints through the use of secondary notations. This involves the use of auxiliary visual variables (e.g., color, position, size) that are not formally specified in UML. To that end, we extend the traditional concept of layer found in many graphical editors to UML diagram editors. FlipLayers is an implementation of our approach. It is in the form of a plugin for the Papyrus modeling environment. One scenario with several case studies is presented in the paper to demonstrate the benefits of our approach and also to illustrate how to express viewpoints with FlipLayers. @InProceedings{MODELS15p64, author = {Yosser El Ahmar and Sébastien Gérard and Cédric Dumoulin and Xavier Le Pallec}, title = {Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {64--69}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Gerbig, Ralph |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Unifying Approach to Connections ..."
A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling
Colin Atkinson, Ralph Gerbig, and Thomas Kühne (University of Mannheim, Germany; Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) Capturing relationships between concepts in a domain is as important as capturing the concepts themselves. Modeling languages reflect this by providing connections with rich semantics, such as associations and links, thus providing a key advantage over approaches that support relationships with simple references only. While connections for two-level modeling (e.g. in the UML) have enjoyed a stable design for a considerable time, the same cannot be said for connections in multi-level modeling languages. As interest in multi-level modeling grows, it is important to provide a comprehensive design for connections that not only adheres to multi-level principles such as level-agnosticism and explicit level organization, but also supports deep characterization, i.e., the ability to specify level content beyond one level boundary. In this paper we propose a unifying conceptual model for connections whose expressiveness and scalability does not come at the cost of concept proliferation. @InProceedings{MODELS15p216, author = {Colin Atkinson and Ralph Gerbig and Thomas Kühne}, title = {A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {216--225}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Gogolla, Martin |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Extracting Frame Conditions ..."
Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts
Philipp Niemann, Frank Hilken, Martin Gogolla, and Robert Wille (University of Bremen, Germany) In behavioral modeling, operation contracts defined by pre- and postconditions describe the effects on model properties (i.e., model elements such as attributes, links, etc.) that are enforced by an operation. However, it is usually omitted which model properties should not be modified. Defining so-called frame conditions can fill this gap. But, thus far, these have to be defined manually – a time-consuming task. In this work, we propose a methodology which aims to support the modeler in the definition of the frame conditions by extracting suggestions based on an automatic analysis of operation contracts provided in OCL. More precisely, the proposed approach performs a structural analysis of pre- and postconditions together with invariants in order to categorize which class and object properties are clearly “variable” or “unaffected” – and which are “ambiguous”, i.e. indeed require a more thorough inspection. The developed concepts are implemented as a prototype and evaluated by means of several example models known from the literature. @InProceedings{MODELS15p266, author = {Philipp Niemann and Frank Hilken and Martin Gogolla and Robert Wille}, title = {Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {266--275}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "Employing Classifying Terms ..." Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations Martin Gogolla, Antonio Vallecillo, Loli Burgueño, and Frank Hilken (University of Bremen, Germany; University of Málaga, Spain) This contribution proposes a new technique for developing test cases for UML and OCL models. The technique is based on an approach that automatically constructs object models for class models enriched by OCL constraints. By guiding the construction process through so-called classifying terms, the built test cases in form of object models are classified into equivalence classes. A classifying term can be an arbitrary OCL term on the class model that calculates for an object model a characteristic value. From each equivalence class of object models with identical characteristic values one representative is chosen. The constructed test cases behave significantly different with regard to the selected classifying term. By building few diverse object models, properties of the UML and OCL model can be explored effectively. The technique is applied for automatically constructing relevant source model test cases for model transformations between a source and target metamodel. @InProceedings{MODELS15p312, author = {Martin Gogolla and Antonio Vallecillo and Loli Burgueño and Frank Hilken}, title = {Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {312--321}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Greenyer, Joel |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial ..."
Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications
Valerio Panzica La Manna, Itai Segall, and Joel Greenyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA; Bell Labs, Israel; Alcatel-Lucent, Israel; Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany) Software-intensive systems often consist of many components that interact to fulfill complex functionality. Testing these systems is vital, preferably by a minimal set of tests that covers all relevant cases. The behavior is typically specified by scenarios that describe what the system may, must, or must not do. When designing tests, as in the design of the system itself, the challenge is to consider interactions of scenarios. When doing this manually, critical interactions are easily overlooked. Inspired by Combinatorial Test Design, which exploits that bugs are typically found by regarding the interaction of a small set of parameters, we propose a new test coverage criterion based on scenario interactions. Furthermore, we present a novel technique for automatically synthesizing from Modal Sequence Diagram specifications a minimal set of tests that ensures a maximal coverage of possible t-wise scenario interactions. The technique is evaluated on an example specification from an industrial project. @InProceedings{MODELS15p126, author = {Valerio Panzica La Manna and Itai Segall and Joel Greenyer}, title = {Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {126--135}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Gregorics, Balázs |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Textual Diagram Layout Language ..."
Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm
Balázs Gregorics, Tibor Gregorics, Gábor Ferenc Kovács, András Dobreff, and Gergely Dévai (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) Graphical diagrams are an excellent source of information for understanding models. On the other hand, editing, storing and versioning models are more efficient in textual representations. In order to combine the advantages of these two representations, diagrams have to be generated from models defined in text. The generated diagrams are usually created by autolayout algorithms based on heuristics. In this paper we argue that automatically laid out diagrams are not ideal. Instead, we propose a textual layout description language that allows users to define the arrangement of those diagram elements they consider important. The paper also presents algorithms that create diagrams according to the layout description and arrange the underspecified elements automatically. The paper reports on the implementation of the proposed layout description language as an embedded language in Java. It is used to generate class and state machine diagrams compatible with the Papyrus UML editor. @InProceedings{MODELS15p196, author = {Balázs Gregorics and Tibor Gregorics and Gábor Ferenc Kovács and András Dobreff and Gergely Dévai}, title = {Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {196--205}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Gregorics, Tibor |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Textual Diagram Layout Language ..."
Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm
Balázs Gregorics, Tibor Gregorics, Gábor Ferenc Kovács, András Dobreff, and Gergely Dévai (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) Graphical diagrams are an excellent source of information for understanding models. On the other hand, editing, storing and versioning models are more efficient in textual representations. In order to combine the advantages of these two representations, diagrams have to be generated from models defined in text. The generated diagrams are usually created by autolayout algorithms based on heuristics. In this paper we argue that automatically laid out diagrams are not ideal. Instead, we propose a textual layout description language that allows users to define the arrangement of those diagram elements they consider important. The paper also presents algorithms that create diagrams according to the layout description and arrange the underspecified elements automatically. The paper reports on the implementation of the proposed layout description language as an embedded language in Java. It is used to generate class and state machine diagrams compatible with the Papyrus UML editor. @InProceedings{MODELS15p196, author = {Balázs Gregorics and Tibor Gregorics and Gábor Ferenc Kovács and András Dobreff and Gergely Dévai}, title = {Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {196--205}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Greifenberg, Timo |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Engineering Tagging Languages ..."
Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs
Timo Greifenberg, Markus Look, Sebastian Roidl, and Bernhard Rumpe (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) To keep a DSL clean, readable and reusable in different contexts, it is useful to define a separate tagging language. A tag model logically adds information to the tagged DSL model while technically keeping the artifacts separated. Using a generic tagging language leads to promiscuous tag models, whereas defining a target DSL-specific tag language has a high initial overhead. This paper presents a systematic approach to define a DSL-specific tag language and a corresponding schema language, combining the advantages of both worlds: (a) the tag language specifically fits to the DSL, (b) the artifacts are kept separated and enabling reuse with different tag decorations, (c) the tag language follows a defined type schema, and (d) systematic derivation considerably reduces the effort necessary to implement the tag language. An example shows that it can at least partially be realized by a generator and applied for any kind of DSL. @InProceedings{MODELS15p34, author = {Timo Greifenberg and Markus Look and Sebastian Roidl and Bernhard Rumpe}, title = {Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {34--43}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Grundy, John |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Integrating Goal-Oriented ..."
Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link
Tuong Huan Nguyen, John Grundy, and Mohamed Almorsy (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia) Combining goal-oriented and use case modeling has been shown as an effective method of requirements engineering. To ensure the quality of such modeled artifacts, a conceptual foundation is needed to govern the process of determining what types of artifacts to be modeled, and how they should be specified and analyzed for 3Cs problems (completeness, consistency and correctness). However, such a foundation is missing in current goal-use case integration approaches. In this paper, we present GUIMeta, a meta-model, to address this problem. GUIMeta consists of three layers. The artifact layer defines the semantics and classification of artifacts and their relationships. The specification layer offers specification rules for each artifact class. The ontology layer allows semantics to be integrated into the entire model. Our promising evaluation shows the suitability of GUIMeta in modeling goals and use cases. @InProceedings{MODELS15p328, author = {Tuong Huan Nguyen and John Grundy and Mohamed Almorsy}, title = {Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {328--337}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Guerra, Esther |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations ..."
Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations
Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, Esther Guerra , and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) The correctness of model transformations is key to obtain reliable MDE solutions. However, current transformation tools provide limited support to statically detect and correct errors. This way, the identification of errors and their correction are mostly manual activities. Our aim is to improve this situation. Based on a static analyser for ATL model transformations which we have previously built, we present a method and a system to propose quick fixes for transformation errors. The analyser is based on a combination of program analysis and constraint solving, and our quick fix generation technique makes use of the analyser features to provide a range of fixes, notably some non-trivial, transformation-specific ones. Our approach integrates seamlessly with the ATL editor. We provide an evaluation based on an existing faulty transformation, and automatically generated transformation mutants, showing overall good results. @InProceedings{MODELS15p146, author = {Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Esther Guerra and Juan de Lara}, title = {Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {146--155}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation ..." Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE Nuno Amálio, Juan de Lara , and Esther Guerra (University of York, UK; Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes models throughout development. However, models may become large and unwieldy even for small to medium-sized systems. This paper tackles the MDE challenges of model complexity and scalability. It proposes Fragmenta, a theory of modular design that breaks down overall models into fragments that can be put together to build meaningful wholes, in contrast to classical MDE approaches that are essentially monolithic. The theory is based on an algebraic description of models, fragments and clusters based on graphs and morphisms. The paper's novelties include: (i) a mathematical treatment of fragments and a seaming mechanism of proxies to enable inter-fragment referencing, (ii) fragmentation strategies, which prescribe a fragmentation structure to model instances, (iii) Fragmenta's support for both top-down and bottom-up design, and (iv) our formally proved result that shows that inheritance hierarchies remain well-formed (acyclic) globally when fragments are composed provided some local fragment constraints are met. @InProceedings{MODELS15p106, author = {Nuno Amálio and Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra}, title = {Fragmenta: A Theory of Fragmentation for MDE}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {106--115}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven ..." A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering Juan de Lara , Esther Guerra , and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering is founded on the ability to create and process models conformant to a meta-model. Hence, meta-model classes are used in two ways: as templates to create objects, and as classifiers for them. While these two aspects are inherently tied in most meta-modelling approaches, in this paper, we discuss the benefits of their decoupling. Thus, we rely on standard mechanisms for object creation and propose a-posteriori typing as a means to reclassify objects and enable multiple, partial, dynamic typings. This approach enhances flexibility, permitting unanticipated reutilization (as existing model management operations defined for a meta-model can be reused with other models once they get reclassified), as well as model transformation by reclassification. We show the underlying theory behind the introduced concepts, and illustrate its applicability using our MetaDepth meta-modelling tool. @InProceedings{MODELS15p156, author = {Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado}, title = {A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {156--165}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Development ..." Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages Ana Pescador, Antonio Garmendia , Esther Guerra , Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes the use of models to conduct all phases of software development in an automated way. Models are frequently defined using Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs), which many times need to be developed for the domain at hand. However, while constructing DSMLs is a recurring activity in MDE, there is scarce support for gathering, reusing and enacting knowledge for their design and implementation. This forces the development of every new DSML to start from scratch. To alleviate this problem, we propose the construction of DSMLs and their modelling environments aided by patterns which gather knowledge of specific domains, design alternatives, concrete syntax, dynamic semantics and functionality for the modelling environment. They may have associated services, realized via components. Our approach is supported by a tool that enables the construction of DSMLs through the application of patterns, and synthesizes a graphical modelling environment according to them. @InProceedings{MODELS15p166, author = {Ana Pescador and Antonio Garmendia and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Juan de Lara}, title = {Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {166--175}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Hartmann, Thomas |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Heyman, Thomas |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..."
SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems
Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Hilken, Christoph |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Checking Concurrent Behavior ..."
Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models
Nils Przigoda, Christoph Hilken, Robert Wille, Jan Peleska, and Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, Germany; DFKI, Germany) The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a de-facto standard for software development and, together with the Object Constraint Language (OCL), allows for a precise description of a system prior to its implementation. At the same time, these descriptions can be employed to check the consistency and, hence, the correctness of a given UML/OCL model. In the recent past, numerous (automated) approaches have been proposed for this purpose. The behavior of the systems has usually been considered by means of sequence diagrams, state machines, and activity diagrams. But with the increasing popularity of design by contract, also composite structures, classes, and operations are frequently used to describe behavior in UML/OCL. However, for these description means no solution for the validation and verification of concurrent behavior is available yet. In this work, we propose such a solution. To this end, we discuss the possible interpretations of “concurrency” which are admissible according to the common UML/OCL interpretation and, afterwards, propose a methodology which exploits solvers for SAT Modulo Theories (i.e., SMT solvers) in order to check the concurrent behavior of UML/OCL models. How to address the resulting problems is described and illustrated by means of a running example. Finally, the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. @InProceedings{MODELS15p176, author = {Nils Przigoda and Christoph Hilken and Robert Wille and Jan Peleska and Rolf Drechsler}, title = {Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {176--185}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Hilken, Frank |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Extracting Frame Conditions ..."
Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts
Philipp Niemann, Frank Hilken, Martin Gogolla, and Robert Wille (University of Bremen, Germany) In behavioral modeling, operation contracts defined by pre- and postconditions describe the effects on model properties (i.e., model elements such as attributes, links, etc.) that are enforced by an operation. However, it is usually omitted which model properties should not be modified. Defining so-called frame conditions can fill this gap. But, thus far, these have to be defined manually – a time-consuming task. In this work, we propose a methodology which aims to support the modeler in the definition of the frame conditions by extracting suggestions based on an automatic analysis of operation contracts provided in OCL. More precisely, the proposed approach performs a structural analysis of pre- and postconditions together with invariants in order to categorize which class and object properties are clearly “variable” or “unaffected” – and which are “ambiguous”, i.e. indeed require a more thorough inspection. The developed concepts are implemented as a prototype and evaluated by means of several example models known from the literature. @InProceedings{MODELS15p266, author = {Philipp Niemann and Frank Hilken and Martin Gogolla and Robert Wille}, title = {Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {266--275}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "Employing Classifying Terms ..." Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations Martin Gogolla, Antonio Vallecillo, Loli Burgueño, and Frank Hilken (University of Bremen, Germany; University of Málaga, Spain) This contribution proposes a new technique for developing test cases for UML and OCL models. The technique is based on an approach that automatically constructs object models for class models enriched by OCL constraints. By guiding the construction process through so-called classifying terms, the built test cases in form of object models are classified into equivalence classes. A classifying term can be an arbitrary OCL term on the class model that calculates for an object model a characteristic value. From each equivalence class of object models with identical characteristic values one representative is chosen. The constructed test cases behave significantly different with regard to the selected classifying term. By building few diverse object models, properties of the UML and OCL model can be explored effectively. The technique is applied for automatically constructing relevant source model test cases for model transformations between a source and target metamodel. @InProceedings{MODELS15p312, author = {Martin Gogolla and Antonio Vallecillo and Loli Burgueño and Frank Hilken}, title = {Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {312--321}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Hölldobler, Katrin |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific ..."
Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages
Katrin Hölldobler, Bernhard Rumpe , and Ingo Weisemöller (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) Model transformations are helpful to evolve, refactor, refine and maintain models. While domain-specific languages are normally intuitive for modelers, common model transforma- tion approaches (regardless of whether they transform graphical or textual models) are based on the modeling language’s abstract syntax requiring the modeler to learn the internal representation of the model to describe transformations. This paper presents a process that allows to systematically derive a textual domain- specific transformation language from the grammar of a given textual modeling language. As example, we apply this systematic derivation to UML class diagrams to obtain a domain-specific transformation language called CDTrans. CDTrans incorporates the concrete syntax of class diagrams which is already familiar to the modeler and extends it with a few transformation operators. To demonstrate the usefulness of the derived transformation language, we describe several refactoring transformations. @InProceedings{MODELS15p136, author = {Katrin Hölldobler and Bernhard Rumpe and Ingo Weisemöller}, title = {Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {136--145}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kapsammer, Elisabeth |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Ketata, Aymen |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Performance Prediction upon ..."
Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software
Aymen Ketata, Carlos Moreno, Sebastian Fischmeister, Jia Liang, and Krzysztof Czarnecki (University of Waterloo, Canada) Changing the development environment can have severe impacts on the system behavior such as the execution-time performance. Since it can be costly to migrate a software application, engineers would like to predict the performance parameters of the application under the new environment with as little effort as possible. In this paper, we concentrate on model-driven development and provide a methodology to estimate the execution-time performance of application models under different toolchains. Our approach has low cost compared to the migration effort of an entire application. As part of the approach, we provide methods for characterizing model-driven applications, an algorithm for generating application-specific microbenchmarks, and results on using different methods for estimating the performance. In the work, we focus on SCADE as the development toolchain and use a Cruise Control and a Water Level application as case studies to confirm the technical feasibility and viability of our technique. @InProceedings{MODELS15p302, author = {Aymen Ketata and Carlos Moreno and Sebastian Fischmeister and Jia Liang and Krzysztof Czarnecki}, title = {Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {302--311}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Khalil, Amal |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Incremental Symbolic Execution ..."
Incremental Symbolic Execution of Evolving State Machines
Amal Khalil and Juergen Dingel (Queen's University, Canada) This paper introduces two complementary techniques, memoization-based and dependency-based incremental symbolic execution, that aim to optimize the analysis of state machine models that undergo change. We implement the two proposed techniques on IBM Rhapsody Statecharts and present some evaluation results. @InProceedings{MODELS15p14, author = {Amal Khalil and Juergen Dingel}, title = {Incremental Symbolic Execution of Evolving State Machines}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {14--23}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kienzle, Jörg |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Concern-Oriented Interfaces ..."
Concern-Oriented Interfaces for Model-Based Reuse of APIs
Matthias Schöttle and Jörg Kienzle (McGill University, Canada) Reuse is essential in modern software engineering, but limited in the context of MDE by the poor availability of reusable models. On the other hand, reusable code artifacts such as frameworks and libraries are abundant. This paper presents an approach to raise reusable code artifacts to the modelling level by modelling their API using concern-oriented techniques, thus enabling their use in the context of MDE. Our API interface models contain additional information, such as the encapsulated features and their impacts, to assist the developer in the reuse process. Once he has specified his needs, the model interface exposes only the API elements relevant for this specific reuse at the model level, together with the required usage protocol. We show how this approach is applied by hand to model the interface of a small GUI framework and outline how we envision this process to be performed semi-automatically. @InProceedings{MODELS15p286, author = {Matthias Schöttle and Jörg Kienzle}, title = {Concern-Oriented Interfaces for Model-Based Reuse of APIs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {286--291}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Klein, Jacques |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..." SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kokaly, Sahar |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enriching Megamodel Management ..."
Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators
Rick Salay, Sahar Kokaly, Alessio Di Sandro, and Marsha Chechik (University of Toronto, Canada; McMaster University, Canada) Megamodels are often used in MDE to describe collections of models and relationships between them. Typical collection-based operations -- map, reduce, filter -- cannot be applied directly to megamodels since these operators need to take relationships between models into consideration. In this paper, we propose adapted versions of these operators, demonstrating them on four megamodeling scenarios. We then analyze their applicability for handling industrial-sized megamodels. Finally, we report on a reference implementation of the operators and experimental results using it. @InProceedings{MODELS15p236, author = {Rick Salay and Sahar Kokaly and Alessio Di Sandro and Marsha Chechik}, title = {Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {236--245}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kovács, Gábor Ferenc |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Textual Diagram Layout Language ..."
Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm
Balázs Gregorics, Tibor Gregorics, Gábor Ferenc Kovács, András Dobreff, and Gergely Dévai (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) Graphical diagrams are an excellent source of information for understanding models. On the other hand, editing, storing and versioning models are more efficient in textual representations. In order to combine the advantages of these two representations, diagrams have to be generated from models defined in text. The generated diagrams are usually created by autolayout algorithms based on heuristics. In this paper we argue that automatically laid out diagrams are not ideal. Instead, we propose a textual layout description language that allows users to define the arrangement of those diagram elements they consider important. The paper also presents algorithms that create diagrams according to the layout description and arrange the underspecified elements automatically. The paper reports on the implementation of the proposed layout description language as an embedded language in Java. It is used to generate class and state machine diagrams compatible with the Papyrus UML editor. @InProceedings{MODELS15p196, author = {Balázs Gregorics and Tibor Gregorics and Gábor Ferenc Kovács and András Dobreff and Gergely Dévai}, title = {Textual Diagram Layout Language and Visualization Algorithm}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {196--205}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kühne, Thomas |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Unifying Approach to Connections ..."
A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling
Colin Atkinson, Ralph Gerbig, and Thomas Kühne (University of Mannheim, Germany; Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) Capturing relationships between concepts in a domain is as important as capturing the concepts themselves. Modeling languages reflect this by providing connections with rich semantics, such as associations and links, thus providing a key advantage over approaches that support relationships with simple references only. While connections for two-level modeling (e.g. in the UML) have enjoyed a stable design for a considerable time, the same cannot be said for connections in multi-level modeling languages. As interest in multi-level modeling grows, it is important to provide a comprehensive design for connections that not only adheres to multi-level principles such as level-agnosticism and explicit level organization, but also supports deep characterization, i.e., the ability to specify level content beyond one level boundary. In this paper we propose a unifying conceptual model for connections whose expressiveness and scalability does not come at the cost of concept proliferation. @InProceedings{MODELS15p216, author = {Colin Atkinson and Ralph Gerbig and Thomas Kühne}, title = {A Unifying Approach to Connections for Multi-Level Modeling}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {216--225}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Kusel, Angelika |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Křikava, Filip |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Infrastructure as Runtime ..."
Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management
Filip Křikava, Romain Rouvoy, and Lionel Seinturier (Czech Technical University, Czech Republic; INRIA, France; University of Lille, France) The importance of continuous delivery and the emergence of tools allowing to treat infrastructure configurations programmatically have revolutionized the way computing resources and software systems are managed. However, these tools keep lacking an explicit model representation of underlying resources making it difficult to introspect, verify or reconfigure the system in response to external events. In this paper, we outline a novel approach that treats system infrastructure as explicit runtime models. A key benefit of using such models@run.time representation is that it provides a uniform semantic foundation for resources monitoring and reconfiguration. Adopting models at runtime allows one to integrate different aspects of system management, such as resource monitoring and subsequent verification into an unified view which would otherwise have to be done manually and require to use different tools. It also simplifies the development of various self-adaptation strategies without requiring the engineers and researchers to cope with low-level system complexities. @InProceedings{MODELS15p100, author = {Filip Křikava and Romain Rouvoy and Lionel Seinturier}, title = {Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {100--105}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Leemans, Maikel |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Process Mining in Software ..."
Process Mining in Software Systems: Discovering Real-Life Business Transactions and Process Models from Distributed Systems
Maikel Leemans and Wil M. P. van der Aalst (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands) This paper presents a novel reverse engineering technique for obtaining real-life event logs from distributed systems. This allows us to analyze the operational processes of software systems under real-life conditions, and use process mining techniques to obtain precise and formal models. Hence, the work can be positioned in-between reverse engineering and process mining. We present a formal definition, implementation and an instrumentation strategy based the joinpoint-pointcut model. Two case studies are used to evaluate our approach. These concrete examples demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of our approach. @InProceedings{MODELS15p44, author = {Maikel Leemans and Wil M. P. van der Aalst}, title = {Process Mining in Software Systems: Discovering Real-Life Business Transactions and Process Models from Distributed Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {44--53}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Le Pallec, Xavier |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enhancing the Communication ..."
Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers
Yosser El Ahmar, Sébastien Gérard, Cédric Dumoulin, and Xavier Le Pallec (CEA, France; University of Lille, France) UML is defined as a visual modeling language for specifying, constructing, and documenting software intensive systems. In that context, UML diagrams play a central role in the whole software engineering process, starting from early analysis, through implementation, to maintenance. Recent surveys of UML use in industry showed that software practitioners use it on a regular basis, and particularly for communication and as a mental-assist tool. However, they also pointed out the following weaknesses: the lack of context, graphical layout problems, and the language’s inadequacy as a facility for communication between technical teams and their clients. In this paper, we present a general approach that addresses these problems by enhancing the effectiveness of UML models as a communication vehicle. Our approach is based on expressing stakeholder-specific viewpoints through the use of secondary notations. This involves the use of auxiliary visual variables (e.g., color, position, size) that are not formally specified in UML. To that end, we extend the traditional concept of layer found in many graphical editors to UML diagram editors. FlipLayers is an implementation of our approach. It is in the form of a plugin for the Papyrus modeling environment. One scenario with several case studies is presented in the paper to demonstrate the benefits of our approach and also to illustrate how to express viewpoints with FlipLayers. @InProceedings{MODELS15p64, author = {Yosser El Ahmar and Sébastien Gérard and Cédric Dumoulin and Xavier Le Pallec}, title = {Enhancing the Communication Value of UML Models with Graphical Layers}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {64--69}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Le Traon, Yves |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..." SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Liang, Jia |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Performance Prediction upon ..."
Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software
Aymen Ketata, Carlos Moreno, Sebastian Fischmeister, Jia Liang, and Krzysztof Czarnecki (University of Waterloo, Canada) Changing the development environment can have severe impacts on the system behavior such as the execution-time performance. Since it can be costly to migrate a software application, engineers would like to predict the performance parameters of the application under the new environment with as little effort as possible. In this paper, we concentrate on model-driven development and provide a methodology to estimate the execution-time performance of application models under different toolchains. Our approach has low cost compared to the migration effort of an entire application. As part of the approach, we provide methods for characterizing model-driven applications, an algorithm for generating application-specific microbenchmarks, and results on using different methods for estimating the performance. In the work, we focus on SCADE as the development toolchain and use a Cruise Control and a Water Level application as case studies to confirm the technical feasibility and viability of our technique. @InProceedings{MODELS15p302, author = {Aymen Ketata and Carlos Moreno and Sebastian Fischmeister and Jia Liang and Krzysztof Czarnecki}, title = {Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {302--311}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Look, Markus |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Engineering Tagging Languages ..."
Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs
Timo Greifenberg, Markus Look, Sebastian Roidl, and Bernhard Rumpe (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) To keep a DSL clean, readable and reusable in different contexts, it is useful to define a separate tagging language. A tag model logically adds information to the tagged DSL model while technically keeping the artifacts separated. Using a generic tagging language leads to promiscuous tag models, whereas defining a target DSL-specific tag language has a high initial overhead. This paper presents a systematic approach to define a DSL-specific tag language and a corresponding schema language, combining the advantages of both worlds: (a) the tag language specifically fits to the DSL, (b) the artifacts are kept separated and enabling reuse with different tag decorations, (c) the tag language follows a defined type schema, and (d) systematic derivation considerably reduces the effort necessary to implement the tag language. An example shows that it can at least partially be realized by a generator and applied for any kind of DSL. @InProceedings{MODELS15p34, author = {Timo Greifenberg and Markus Look and Sebastian Roidl and Bernhard Rumpe}, title = {Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {34--43}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Lúcio, Levi |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fully Verifying Transformation ..."
Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL
Bentley James Oakes, Javier Troya, Levi Lúcio, and Manuel Wimmer (McGill University, Canada; Vienna University of Technology, Austria) The Atlas Transformation Language (ATL) is today a de-facto standard in model-driven development. It is understood by the community that methods for exhaustively verifying such transformations provide an important pillar for achieving a stronger adoption of model-driven development in industry. In this paper we propose a method for verifying ATL model transformations by translating them into DSLTrans, a transformation language with limited expressiveness. Pre-/post-condition contracts are then verified on the resulting DSLTrans specification using a symbolic-execution property prover. The technique we present in this paper is exhaustive for the declarative ATL subset, meaning that if a contract holds, it will hold when any input model is passed to the ATL transformation being checked. We examine the scalability of our technique using a set of examples, including a model transformation developed in collaboration with our industrial partner. @InProceedings{MODELS15p256, author = {Bentley James Oakes and Javier Troya and Levi Lúcio and Manuel Wimmer}, title = {Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {256--265}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Macias, Fernando |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Statistical Analysis Approach ..."
A Statistical Analysis Approach to Assist Model Transformation Evolution
Roberto Rodriguez-Echeverria and Fernando Macias (University of Extremadura, Spain; Bergen University College, Norway) Model Driven Engineering (MDE) is essentially based in metamodel definition, model edition and the specification of model transformations (MT) among these. In many cases the development, evolution and adaptation of these transformations is still carried out without the support of proper methods and tools to reduce the effort and related costs to these activities. In this work, a novel model testing approach specifically designed to assist the engineer in model transformation evolution is presented. A statistical analysis of the actual behavior of the transformations is performed by means of the computation of well-known information extraction metrics. In order to assist the MT adaptation, a detailed interpretation of the possible results of those metrics is also presented. And finally, the results of applying this approach on a Model-Driven Reverse Engineering (MDRE) scenario defined in the context of the MIGRARIA project are discussed. @InProceedings{MODELS15p226, author = {Roberto Rodriguez-Echeverria and Fernando Macias}, title = {A Statistical Analysis Approach to Assist Model Transformation Evolution}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {226--235}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Mallet, Frédéric |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Behavioral Coordination ..."
A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)
Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen, Julien DeAntoni, Benoit Combemale , and Frédéric Mallet (University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France; INRIA, France; University of Rennes 1, France) The design of complex systems involves various, possibly heterogeneous, structural and behavioral models. In model-driven engineering, the coordination of behavioral models to produce a single integrated model is necessary to provide support for validation and verification. Indeed, it allows system designers to understand and validate the global and emerging behavior of the system. However, the manual coordination of models is tedious and error-prone, and current approaches to automate the coordination are bound to a fixed set of coordination patterns. In this paper, we propose a Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL) to reify coordination patterns between specific domains by using coordination operators between the Domain-Specific Modeling Languages used in these domains. Those operators are then used to automate the coordination of models conforming to these languages. We illustrate the use of BCOoL with the definition of coordination operators between timed finite state machines and activity diagrams. @InProceedings{MODELS15p186, author = {Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen and Julien DeAntoni and Benoit Combemale and Frédéric Mallet}, title = {A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {186--195}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video |
|
Maoz, Shahar |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Framework for Relating Syntactic ..."
A Framework for Relating Syntactic and Semantic Model Differences
Shahar Maoz and Jan Oliver Ringert (Tel Aviv University, Israel) Model differencing is an important activity in model-based development processes. Differences need to be detected, analyzed, and understood to evolve systems and explore alternatives. Two distinct approaches have been studied in the literature: syntactic differencing, which compares the concrete or abstract syntax of models, and semantic differencing, which compares models in terms of their meaning. Syntactic differencing identifies change operations that transform the syntactical representation of one model to the syntactical representation of the other. However, it does not explain their impact on the meaning of the model. Semantic model differencing is independent of syntactic changes and presents differences as elements in the semantics of one model but not the other. However, it does not reveal the syntactic changes causing these semantic differences. We define a language independent, abstract framework, which relates syntactic change operations and semantic difference witnesses. We formalize fundamental relations of necessary and sufficient sets of change operations and analyze their properties. We further demonstrate concrete instances of the framework for three different popular modeling languages, namely, class diagrams, activity diagrams, and feature models. The framework provides a novel foundation for combining syntactic and semantic differencing. @InProceedings{MODELS15p24, author = {Shahar Maoz and Jan Oliver Ringert}, title = {A Framework for Relating Syntactic and Semantic Model Differences}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {24--33}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Marczak, Sabrina |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Controlled Experiment with ..."
A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques
Natasha M. Costa Valentim, Jacilane Rabelo, Ana Carolina Oran, Tayana Conte, and Sabrina Marczak (Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil; PUCRS, Brazil) A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1—Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1. @InProceedings{MODELS15p206, author = {Natasha M. Costa Valentim and Jacilane Rabelo and Ana Carolina Oran and Tayana Conte and Sabrina Marczak}, title = {A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {206--215}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Moawad, Assaad |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Montaghami, Vajih |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Debugging of ..."
Pattern-Based Debugging of Declarative Models
Vajih Montaghami and Derek Rayside (University of Waterloo, Canada) Pattern-based debugging compares the engineer's model to a pre-computed library of patterns, and generates discriminating examples that help the engineer decide if the model's constraints need to be strengthened or weakened. A number of tactics are used to help connect the generated examples to the text of the model. This technique augments existing example/counter-example generators and unsatisfiable core analysis tools, to help the engineer better localize and understand defects caused by complete overconstraint, partial overconstraint, and underconstraint. The technique is applied to localizing, understanding, and fixing a defect in an Alloy model of Dijkstra's Dining Philosopher's problem. Automating the search procedure remains as essential future work. @InProceedings{MODELS15p322, author = {Vajih Montaghami and Derek Rayside}, title = {Pattern-Based Debugging of Declarative Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {322--327}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Moreno, Carlos |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Performance Prediction upon ..."
Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software
Aymen Ketata, Carlos Moreno, Sebastian Fischmeister, Jia Liang, and Krzysztof Czarnecki (University of Waterloo, Canada) Changing the development environment can have severe impacts on the system behavior such as the execution-time performance. Since it can be costly to migrate a software application, engineers would like to predict the performance parameters of the application under the new environment with as little effort as possible. In this paper, we concentrate on model-driven development and provide a methodology to estimate the execution-time performance of application models under different toolchains. Our approach has low cost compared to the migration effort of an entire application. As part of the approach, we provide methods for characterizing model-driven applications, an algorithm for generating application-specific microbenchmarks, and results on using different methods for estimating the performance. In the work, we focus on SCADE as the development toolchain and use a Cruise Control and a Water Level application as case studies to confirm the technical feasibility and viability of our technique. @InProceedings{MODELS15p302, author = {Aymen Ketata and Carlos Moreno and Sebastian Fischmeister and Jia Liang and Krzysztof Czarnecki}, title = {Performance Prediction upon Toolchain Migration in Model-Based Software}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {302--311}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Nain, Gregory |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Beyond Discrete Modeling: ..."
Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT
Assaad Moawad, Thomas Hartmann, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Internet of Things applications analyze our past habits through sensor measures to anticipate future trends. To yield accurate predictions, intelligent systems not only rely on single numerical values, but also on structured models aggregated from different sensors. Computation theory, based on the discretisation of observable data into timed events, can easily lead to million of values. Time series and similar database structures can index the mere of data, but quickly reach computation and storage limits to create IoT models. We propose a concept of continuous models that can handle high-volatile IoT data by defining a new type of meta attribute, which represents the continuous nature of IoT related values. On top of traditional discrete object-oriented modeling APIs, we enable models to represent very large sequences of sensor values by using mathematical polynomials. We show on various IoT datasets that this significantly improves storage and reasoning efficiency. @InProceedings{MODELS15p90, author = {Assaad Moawad and Thomas Hartmann and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Beyond Discrete Modeling: A Continuous and Efficient Model for IoT}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {90--99}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Stream my Models: Reactive ..." Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time Thomas Hartmann, Assaad Moawad, Francois Fouquet, Gregory Nain, Jacques Klein , and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) The models@run.time paradigm promotes the use of models during the execution of cyber-physical systems to represent their context and to reason about their runtime behaviour. However, current modeling techniques do not allow to cope at the same time with the large-scale, distributed, and constantly changing nature of these systems. This paper introduces a distributed models@run.time approach, combining ideas from reactive programming, peer-to-peer distribution, and large-scale models@run.time. We define distributed models as observable streams of chunks that are exchanged between nodes in a peer-to-peer manner. A lazy loading strategy allows to transparently access the complete virtual model from every node, although chunks are actually distributed across nodes. Observers and automatic reloading of chunks enable a reactive programming style. We integrated our approach into the Kevoree Modeling Framework and demonstrate that it enables frequently changing, reactive distributed models that can scale to millions of elements and several thousand nodes. Distributed Models@run.time, Reactive-programming @InProceedings{MODELS15p80, author = {Thomas Hartmann and Assaad Moawad and Francois Fouquet and Gregory Nain and Jacques Klein and Yves Le Traon}, title = {Stream my Models: Reactive Peer-to-Peer Distributed Models@run.time}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {80--89}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Nguyen, Phu H. |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..."
SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems
Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Nguyen, Tuong Huan |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Integrating Goal-Oriented ..."
Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link
Tuong Huan Nguyen, John Grundy, and Mohamed Almorsy (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia) Combining goal-oriented and use case modeling has been shown as an effective method of requirements engineering. To ensure the quality of such modeled artifacts, a conceptual foundation is needed to govern the process of determining what types of artifacts to be modeled, and how they should be specified and analyzed for 3Cs problems (completeness, consistency and correctness). However, such a foundation is missing in current goal-use case integration approaches. In this paper, we present GUIMeta, a meta-model, to address this problem. GUIMeta consists of three layers. The artifact layer defines the semantics and classification of artifacts and their relationships. The specification layer offers specification rules for each artifact class. The ontology layer allows semantics to be integrated into the entire model. Our promising evaluation shows the suitability of GUIMeta in modeling goals and use cases. @InProceedings{MODELS15p328, author = {Tuong Huan Nguyen and John Grundy and Mohamed Almorsy}, title = {Integrating Goal-Oriented and Use Case-Based Requirements Engineering: The Missing Link}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {328--337}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Niemann, Philipp |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Extracting Frame Conditions ..."
Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts
Philipp Niemann, Frank Hilken, Martin Gogolla, and Robert Wille (University of Bremen, Germany) In behavioral modeling, operation contracts defined by pre- and postconditions describe the effects on model properties (i.e., model elements such as attributes, links, etc.) that are enforced by an operation. However, it is usually omitted which model properties should not be modified. Defining so-called frame conditions can fill this gap. But, thus far, these have to be defined manually – a time-consuming task. In this work, we propose a methodology which aims to support the modeler in the definition of the frame conditions by extracting suggestions based on an automatic analysis of operation contracts provided in OCL. More precisely, the proposed approach performs a structural analysis of pre- and postconditions together with invariants in order to categorize which class and object properties are clearly “variable” or “unaffected” – and which are “ambiguous”, i.e. indeed require a more thorough inspection. The developed concepts are implemented as a prototype and evaluated by means of several example models known from the literature. @InProceedings{MODELS15p266, author = {Philipp Niemann and Frank Hilken and Martin Gogolla and Robert Wille}, title = {Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {266--275}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Oakes, Bentley James |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fully Verifying Transformation ..."
Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL
Bentley James Oakes, Javier Troya, Levi Lúcio, and Manuel Wimmer (McGill University, Canada; Vienna University of Technology, Austria) The Atlas Transformation Language (ATL) is today a de-facto standard in model-driven development. It is understood by the community that methods for exhaustively verifying such transformations provide an important pillar for achieving a stronger adoption of model-driven development in industry. In this paper we propose a method for verifying ATL model transformations by translating them into DSLTrans, a transformation language with limited expressiveness. Pre-/post-condition contracts are then verified on the resulting DSLTrans specification using a symbolic-execution property prover. The technique we present in this paper is exhaustive for the declarative ATL subset, meaning that if a contract holds, it will hold when any input model is passed to the ATL transformation being checked. We examine the scalability of our technique using a set of examples, including a model transformation developed in collaboration with our industrial partner. @InProceedings{MODELS15p256, author = {Bentley James Oakes and Javier Troya and Levi Lúcio and Manuel Wimmer}, title = {Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {256--265}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Oran, Ana Carolina |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Controlled Experiment with ..."
A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques
Natasha M. Costa Valentim, Jacilane Rabelo, Ana Carolina Oran, Tayana Conte, and Sabrina Marczak (Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil; PUCRS, Brazil) A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1—Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1. @InProceedings{MODELS15p206, author = {Natasha M. Costa Valentim and Jacilane Rabelo and Ana Carolina Oran and Tayana Conte and Sabrina Marczak}, title = {A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {206--215}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Panzica La Manna, Valerio |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial ..."
Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications
Valerio Panzica La Manna, Itai Segall, and Joel Greenyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA; Bell Labs, Israel; Alcatel-Lucent, Israel; Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany) Software-intensive systems often consist of many components that interact to fulfill complex functionality. Testing these systems is vital, preferably by a minimal set of tests that covers all relevant cases. The behavior is typically specified by scenarios that describe what the system may, must, or must not do. When designing tests, as in the design of the system itself, the challenge is to consider interactions of scenarios. When doing this manually, critical interactions are easily overlooked. Inspired by Combinatorial Test Design, which exploits that bugs are typically found by regarding the interaction of a small set of parameters, we propose a new test coverage criterion based on scenario interactions. Furthermore, we present a novel technique for automatically synthesizing from Modal Sequence Diagram specifications a minimal set of tests that ensures a maximal coverage of possible t-wise scenario interactions. The technique is evaluated on an example specification from an industrial project. @InProceedings{MODELS15p126, author = {Valerio Panzica La Manna and Itai Segall and Joel Greenyer}, title = {Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {126--135}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Peleska, Jan |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Checking Concurrent Behavior ..."
Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models
Nils Przigoda, Christoph Hilken, Robert Wille, Jan Peleska, and Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, Germany; DFKI, Germany) The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a de-facto standard for software development and, together with the Object Constraint Language (OCL), allows for a precise description of a system prior to its implementation. At the same time, these descriptions can be employed to check the consistency and, hence, the correctness of a given UML/OCL model. In the recent past, numerous (automated) approaches have been proposed for this purpose. The behavior of the systems has usually been considered by means of sequence diagrams, state machines, and activity diagrams. But with the increasing popularity of design by contract, also composite structures, classes, and operations are frequently used to describe behavior in UML/OCL. However, for these description means no solution for the validation and verification of concurrent behavior is available yet. In this work, we propose such a solution. To this end, we discuss the possible interpretations of “concurrency” which are admissible according to the common UML/OCL interpretation and, afterwards, propose a methodology which exploits solvers for SAT Modulo Theories (i.e., SMT solvers) in order to check the concurrent behavior of UML/OCL models. How to address the resulting problems is described and illustrated by means of a running example. Finally, the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. @InProceedings{MODELS15p176, author = {Nils Przigoda and Christoph Hilken and Robert Wille and Jan Peleska and Rolf Drechsler}, title = {Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {176--185}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Pescador, Ana |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Development ..."
Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages
Ana Pescador, Antonio Garmendia , Esther Guerra , Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes the use of models to conduct all phases of software development in an automated way. Models are frequently defined using Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs), which many times need to be developed for the domain at hand. However, while constructing DSMLs is a recurring activity in MDE, there is scarce support for gathering, reusing and enacting knowledge for their design and implementation. This forces the development of every new DSML to start from scratch. To alleviate this problem, we propose the construction of DSMLs and their modelling environments aided by patterns which gather knowledge of specific domains, design alternatives, concrete syntax, dynamic semantics and functionality for the modelling environment. They may have associated services, realized via components. Our approach is supported by a tool that enables the construction of DSMLs through the application of patterns, and synthesizes a graphical modelling environment according to them. @InProceedings{MODELS15p166, author = {Ana Pescador and Antonio Garmendia and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Juan de Lara}, title = {Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {166--175}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Przigoda, Nils |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Checking Concurrent Behavior ..."
Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models
Nils Przigoda, Christoph Hilken, Robert Wille, Jan Peleska, and Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, Germany; DFKI, Germany) The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a de-facto standard for software development and, together with the Object Constraint Language (OCL), allows for a precise description of a system prior to its implementation. At the same time, these descriptions can be employed to check the consistency and, hence, the correctness of a given UML/OCL model. In the recent past, numerous (automated) approaches have been proposed for this purpose. The behavior of the systems has usually been considered by means of sequence diagrams, state machines, and activity diagrams. But with the increasing popularity of design by contract, also composite structures, classes, and operations are frequently used to describe behavior in UML/OCL. However, for these description means no solution for the validation and verification of concurrent behavior is available yet. In this work, we propose such a solution. To this end, we discuss the possible interpretations of “concurrency” which are admissible according to the common UML/OCL interpretation and, afterwards, propose a methodology which exploits solvers for SAT Modulo Theories (i.e., SMT solvers) in order to check the concurrent behavior of UML/OCL models. How to address the resulting problems is described and illustrated by means of a running example. Finally, the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. @InProceedings{MODELS15p176, author = {Nils Przigoda and Christoph Hilken and Robert Wille and Jan Peleska and Rolf Drechsler}, title = {Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {176--185}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Rabelo, Jacilane |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Controlled Experiment with ..."
A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques
Natasha M. Costa Valentim, Jacilane Rabelo, Ana Carolina Oran, Tayana Conte, and Sabrina Marczak (Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil; PUCRS, Brazil) A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1—Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1. @InProceedings{MODELS15p206, author = {Natasha M. Costa Valentim and Jacilane Rabelo and Ana Carolina Oran and Tayana Conte and Sabrina Marczak}, title = {A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {206--215}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Rayside, Derek |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Debugging of ..."
Pattern-Based Debugging of Declarative Models
Vajih Montaghami and Derek Rayside (University of Waterloo, Canada) Pattern-based debugging compares the engineer's model to a pre-computed library of patterns, and generates discriminating examples that help the engineer decide if the model's constraints need to be strengthened or weakened. A number of tactics are used to help connect the generated examples to the text of the model. This technique augments existing example/counter-example generators and unsatisfiable core analysis tools, to help the engineer better localize and understand defects caused by complete overconstraint, partial overconstraint, and underconstraint. The technique is applied to localizing, understanding, and fixing a defect in an Alloy model of Dijkstra's Dining Philosopher's problem. Automating the search procedure remains as essential future work. @InProceedings{MODELS15p322, author = {Vajih Montaghami and Derek Rayside}, title = {Pattern-Based Debugging of Declarative Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {322--327}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Retschitzegger, Werner |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Ringert, Jan Oliver |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Framework for Relating Syntactic ..."
A Framework for Relating Syntactic and Semantic Model Differences
Shahar Maoz and Jan Oliver Ringert (Tel Aviv University, Israel) Model differencing is an important activity in model-based development processes. Differences need to be detected, analyzed, and understood to evolve systems and explore alternatives. Two distinct approaches have been studied in the literature: syntactic differencing, which compares the concrete or abstract syntax of models, and semantic differencing, which compares models in terms of their meaning. Syntactic differencing identifies change operations that transform the syntactical representation of one model to the syntactical representation of the other. However, it does not explain their impact on the meaning of the model. Semantic model differencing is independent of syntactic changes and presents differences as elements in the semantics of one model but not the other. However, it does not reveal the syntactic changes causing these semantic differences. We define a language independent, abstract framework, which relates syntactic change operations and semantic difference witnesses. We formalize fundamental relations of necessary and sufficient sets of change operations and analyze their properties. We further demonstrate concrete instances of the framework for three different popular modeling languages, namely, class diagrams, activity diagrams, and feature models. The framework provides a novel foundation for combining syntactic and semantic differencing. @InProceedings{MODELS15p24, author = {Shahar Maoz and Jan Oliver Ringert}, title = {A Framework for Relating Syntactic and Semantic Model Differences}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {24--33}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Rodriguez-Echeverria, Roberto |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Statistical Analysis Approach ..."
A Statistical Analysis Approach to Assist Model Transformation Evolution
Roberto Rodriguez-Echeverria and Fernando Macias (University of Extremadura, Spain; Bergen University College, Norway) Model Driven Engineering (MDE) is essentially based in metamodel definition, model edition and the specification of model transformations (MT) among these. In many cases the development, evolution and adaptation of these transformations is still carried out without the support of proper methods and tools to reduce the effort and related costs to these activities. In this work, a novel model testing approach specifically designed to assist the engineer in model transformation evolution is presented. A statistical analysis of the actual behavior of the transformations is performed by means of the computation of well-known information extraction metrics. In order to assist the MT adaptation, a detailed interpretation of the possible results of those metrics is also presented. And finally, the results of applying this approach on a Model-Driven Reverse Engineering (MDRE) scenario defined in the context of the MIGRARIA project are discussed. @InProceedings{MODELS15p226, author = {Roberto Rodriguez-Echeverria and Fernando Macias}, title = {A Statistical Analysis Approach to Assist Model Transformation Evolution}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {226--235}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Roidl, Sebastian |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Engineering Tagging Languages ..."
Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs
Timo Greifenberg, Markus Look, Sebastian Roidl, and Bernhard Rumpe (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) To keep a DSL clean, readable and reusable in different contexts, it is useful to define a separate tagging language. A tag model logically adds information to the tagged DSL model while technically keeping the artifacts separated. Using a generic tagging language leads to promiscuous tag models, whereas defining a target DSL-specific tag language has a high initial overhead. This paper presents a systematic approach to define a DSL-specific tag language and a corresponding schema language, combining the advantages of both worlds: (a) the tag language specifically fits to the DSL, (b) the artifacts are kept separated and enabling reuse with different tag decorations, (c) the tag language follows a defined type schema, and (d) systematic derivation considerably reduces the effort necessary to implement the tag language. An example shows that it can at least partially be realized by a generator and applied for any kind of DSL. @InProceedings{MODELS15p34, author = {Timo Greifenberg and Markus Look and Sebastian Roidl and Bernhard Rumpe}, title = {Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {34--43}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Rouvoy, Romain |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Infrastructure as Runtime ..."
Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management
Filip Křikava, Romain Rouvoy, and Lionel Seinturier (Czech Technical University, Czech Republic; INRIA, France; University of Lille, France) The importance of continuous delivery and the emergence of tools allowing to treat infrastructure configurations programmatically have revolutionized the way computing resources and software systems are managed. However, these tools keep lacking an explicit model representation of underlying resources making it difficult to introspect, verify or reconfigure the system in response to external events. In this paper, we outline a novel approach that treats system infrastructure as explicit runtime models. A key benefit of using such models@run.time representation is that it provides a uniform semantic foundation for resources monitoring and reconfiguration. Adopting models at runtime allows one to integrate different aspects of system management, such as resource monitoring and subsequent verification into an unified view which would otherwise have to be done manually and require to use different tools. It also simplifies the development of various self-adaptation strategies without requiring the engineers and researchers to cope with low-level system complexities. @InProceedings{MODELS15p100, author = {Filip Křikava and Romain Rouvoy and Lionel Seinturier}, title = {Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {100--105}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Rumpe, Bernhard |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Engineering Tagging Languages ..."
Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs
Timo Greifenberg, Markus Look, Sebastian Roidl, and Bernhard Rumpe (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) To keep a DSL clean, readable and reusable in different contexts, it is useful to define a separate tagging language. A tag model logically adds information to the tagged DSL model while technically keeping the artifacts separated. Using a generic tagging language leads to promiscuous tag models, whereas defining a target DSL-specific tag language has a high initial overhead. This paper presents a systematic approach to define a DSL-specific tag language and a corresponding schema language, combining the advantages of both worlds: (a) the tag language specifically fits to the DSL, (b) the artifacts are kept separated and enabling reuse with different tag decorations, (c) the tag language follows a defined type schema, and (d) systematic derivation considerably reduces the effort necessary to implement the tag language. An example shows that it can at least partially be realized by a generator and applied for any kind of DSL. @InProceedings{MODELS15p34, author = {Timo Greifenberg and Markus Look and Sebastian Roidl and Bernhard Rumpe}, title = {Engineering Tagging Languages for DSLs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {34--43}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific ..." Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages Katrin Hölldobler, Bernhard Rumpe , and Ingo Weisemöller (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) Model transformations are helpful to evolve, refactor, refine and maintain models. While domain-specific languages are normally intuitive for modelers, common model transforma- tion approaches (regardless of whether they transform graphical or textual models) are based on the modeling language’s abstract syntax requiring the modeler to learn the internal representation of the model to describe transformations. This paper presents a process that allows to systematically derive a textual domain- specific transformation language from the grammar of a given textual modeling language. As example, we apply this systematic derivation to UML class diagrams to obtain a domain-specific transformation language called CDTrans. CDTrans incorporates the concrete syntax of class diagrams which is already familiar to the modeler and extends it with a few transformation operators. To demonstrate the usefulness of the derived transformation language, we describe several refactoring transformations. @InProceedings{MODELS15p136, author = {Katrin Hölldobler and Bernhard Rumpe and Ingo Weisemöller}, title = {Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {136--145}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Sabetzadeh, Mehrdad |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Model-Based Framework for ..."
A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies
Ghanem Soltana, Nicolas Sannier, Mehrdad Sabetzadeh, and Lionel C. Briand (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Legal policy simulation is an important decision-support tool in domains such as taxation. The primary goal of legal policy simulation is predicting how changes in the law affect measures of interest, e.g., revenue. Currently, legal policies are simulated via a combination of spreadsheets and software code. This poses a validation challenge both due to complexity reasons and due to legal experts lacking the expertise to understand software code. A further challenge is that representative data for simulation may be unavailable, thus necessitating a data generator. We develop a framework for legal policy simulation that is aimed at addressing these challenges. The framework uses models for specifying both legal policies and the probabilistic characteristics of the underlying population. We devise an automated algorithm for simulation data generation. We evaluate our framework through a case study on Luxembourg's Tax Law. @InProceedings{MODELS15p70, author = {Ghanem Soltana and Nicolas Sannier and Mehrdad Sabetzadeh and Lionel C. Briand}, title = {A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {70--79}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Salay, Rick |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Enriching Megamodel Management ..."
Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators
Rick Salay, Sahar Kokaly, Alessio Di Sandro, and Marsha Chechik (University of Toronto, Canada; McMaster University, Canada) Megamodels are often used in MDE to describe collections of models and relationships between them. Typical collection-based operations -- map, reduce, filter -- cannot be applied directly to megamodels since these operators need to take relationships between models into consideration. In this paper, we propose adapted versions of these operators, demonstrating them on four megamodeling scenarios. We then analyze their applicability for handling industrial-sized megamodels. Finally, we report on a reference implementation of the operators and experimental results using it. @InProceedings{MODELS15p236, author = {Rick Salay and Sahar Kokaly and Alessio Di Sandro and Marsha Chechik}, title = {Enriching Megamodel Management with Collection-Based Operators}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {236--245}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Sánchez Cuadrado, Jesús |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations ..."
Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations
Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, Esther Guerra , and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) The correctness of model transformations is key to obtain reliable MDE solutions. However, current transformation tools provide limited support to statically detect and correct errors. This way, the identification of errors and their correction are mostly manual activities. Our aim is to improve this situation. Based on a static analyser for ATL model transformations which we have previously built, we present a method and a system to propose quick fixes for transformation errors. The analyser is based on a combination of program analysis and constraint solving, and our quick fix generation technique makes use of the analyser features to provide a range of fixes, notably some non-trivial, transformation-specific ones. Our approach integrates seamlessly with the ATL editor. We provide an evaluation based on an existing faulty transformation, and automatically generated transformation mutants, showing overall good results. @InProceedings{MODELS15p146, author = {Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Esther Guerra and Juan de Lara}, title = {Quick Fixing ATL Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {146--155}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video Info MODELS '15-FOUND: "A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven ..." A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering Juan de Lara , Esther Guerra , and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering is founded on the ability to create and process models conformant to a meta-model. Hence, meta-model classes are used in two ways: as templates to create objects, and as classifiers for them. While these two aspects are inherently tied in most meta-modelling approaches, in this paper, we discuss the benefits of their decoupling. Thus, we rely on standard mechanisms for object creation and propose a-posteriori typing as a means to reclassify objects and enable multiple, partial, dynamic typings. This approach enhances flexibility, permitting unanticipated reutilization (as existing model management operations defined for a meta-model can be reused with other models once they get reclassified), as well as model transformation by reclassification. We show the underlying theory behind the introduced concepts, and illustrate its applicability using our MetaDepth meta-modelling tool. @InProceedings{MODELS15p156, author = {Juan de Lara and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado}, title = {A-posteriori Typing for Model-Driven Engineering}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {156--165}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Pattern-Based Development ..." Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages Ana Pescador, Antonio Garmendia , Esther Guerra , Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado, and Juan de Lara (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain) Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) promotes the use of models to conduct all phases of software development in an automated way. Models are frequently defined using Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs), which many times need to be developed for the domain at hand. However, while constructing DSMLs is a recurring activity in MDE, there is scarce support for gathering, reusing and enacting knowledge for their design and implementation. This forces the development of every new DSML to start from scratch. To alleviate this problem, we propose the construction of DSMLs and their modelling environments aided by patterns which gather knowledge of specific domains, design alternatives, concrete syntax, dynamic semantics and functionality for the modelling environment. They may have associated services, realized via components. Our approach is supported by a tool that enables the construction of DSMLs through the application of patterns, and synthesizes a graphical modelling environment according to them. @InProceedings{MODELS15p166, author = {Ana Pescador and Antonio Garmendia and Esther Guerra and Jesús Sánchez Cuadrado and Juan de Lara}, title = {Pattern-Based Development of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {166--175}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Sannier, Nicolas |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Model-Based Framework for ..."
A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies
Ghanem Soltana, Nicolas Sannier, Mehrdad Sabetzadeh, and Lionel C. Briand (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Legal policy simulation is an important decision-support tool in domains such as taxation. The primary goal of legal policy simulation is predicting how changes in the law affect measures of interest, e.g., revenue. Currently, legal policies are simulated via a combination of spreadsheets and software code. This poses a validation challenge both due to complexity reasons and due to legal experts lacking the expertise to understand software code. A further challenge is that representative data for simulation may be unavailable, thus necessitating a data generator. We develop a framework for legal policy simulation that is aimed at addressing these challenges. The framework uses models for specifying both legal policies and the probabilistic characteristics of the underlying population. We devise an automated algorithm for simulation data generation. We evaluate our framework through a case study on Luxembourg's Tax Law. @InProceedings{MODELS15p70, author = {Ghanem Soltana and Nicolas Sannier and Mehrdad Sabetzadeh and Lionel C. Briand}, title = {A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {70--79}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Scandariato, Riccardo |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..."
SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems
Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Schönböck, Johannes |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Schöttle, Matthias |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Concern-Oriented Interfaces ..."
Concern-Oriented Interfaces for Model-Based Reuse of APIs
Matthias Schöttle and Jörg Kienzle (McGill University, Canada) Reuse is essential in modern software engineering, but limited in the context of MDE by the poor availability of reusable models. On the other hand, reusable code artifacts such as frameworks and libraries are abundant. This paper presents an approach to raise reusable code artifacts to the modelling level by modelling their API using concern-oriented techniques, thus enabling their use in the context of MDE. Our API interface models contain additional information, such as the encapsulated features and their impacts, to assist the developer in the reuse process. Once he has specified his needs, the model interface exposes only the API elements relevant for this specific reuse at the model level, together with the required usage protocol. We show how this approach is applied by hand to model the interface of a small GUI framework and outline how we envision this process to be performed semi-automatically. @InProceedings{MODELS15p286, author = {Matthias Schöttle and Jörg Kienzle}, title = {Concern-Oriented Interfaces for Model-Based Reuse of APIs}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {286--291}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Schwinger, Wieland |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Consistent Co-Evolution of ..."
Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations
Angelika Kusel, Jürgen Etzlstorfer, Elisabeth Kapsammer, Werner Retschitzegger, Wieland Schwinger, and Johannes Schönböck (JKU Linz, Austria; University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria at Hagenberg, Austria) Evolving metamodels are in the center of Model-Driven Engineering, necessitating the co-evolution of dependent artifacts like models and transformations. While model co-evolution has been extensively studied, transformation co-evolution has received less attention up to now. Current approaches for transformation co-evolution provide a fixed, restricted set of metamodel (MM) changes, only. Furthermore, composite changes are treated as monolithic units, which may lead to inconsistent co-evolution for overlapping atomic changes and prohibits extensibility. Finally, transformation co-evolution is considered in isolation, possibly inducing inconsistencies between model and transformation co-evolution. To overcome these limitations, we propose a complete set of atomic MM changes being able to describe arbitrary MM evolutions. Reusability and extensibility are supported by means of change composition, ensuring an intra-artifact consistent co-evolution. Furthermore, each change provides resolution actions for both, models and transformations, ensuring an inter-artifact consistent co-evolution. Based on our conceptual approach, a prototypical implementation is presented. @InProceedings{MODELS15p116, author = {Angelika Kusel and Jürgen Etzlstorfer and Elisabeth Kapsammer and Werner Retschitzegger and Wieland Schwinger and Johannes Schönböck}, title = {Consistent Co-Evolution of Models and Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {116--125}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Segall, Itai |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial ..."
Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications
Valerio Panzica La Manna, Itai Segall, and Joel Greenyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA; Bell Labs, Israel; Alcatel-Lucent, Israel; Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany) Software-intensive systems often consist of many components that interact to fulfill complex functionality. Testing these systems is vital, preferably by a minimal set of tests that covers all relevant cases. The behavior is typically specified by scenarios that describe what the system may, must, or must not do. When designing tests, as in the design of the system itself, the challenge is to consider interactions of scenarios. When doing this manually, critical interactions are easily overlooked. Inspired by Combinatorial Test Design, which exploits that bugs are typically found by regarding the interaction of a small set of parameters, we propose a new test coverage criterion based on scenario interactions. Furthermore, we present a novel technique for automatically synthesizing from Modal Sequence Diagram specifications a minimal set of tests that ensures a maximal coverage of possible t-wise scenario interactions. The technique is evaluated on an example specification from an industrial project. @InProceedings{MODELS15p126, author = {Valerio Panzica La Manna and Itai Segall and Joel Greenyer}, title = {Synthesizing Tests for Combinatorial Coverage of Modal Scenario Specifications}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {126--135}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Seinturier, Lionel |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Infrastructure as Runtime ..."
Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management
Filip Křikava, Romain Rouvoy, and Lionel Seinturier (Czech Technical University, Czech Republic; INRIA, France; University of Lille, France) The importance of continuous delivery and the emergence of tools allowing to treat infrastructure configurations programmatically have revolutionized the way computing resources and software systems are managed. However, these tools keep lacking an explicit model representation of underlying resources making it difficult to introspect, verify or reconfigure the system in response to external events. In this paper, we outline a novel approach that treats system infrastructure as explicit runtime models. A key benefit of using such models@run.time representation is that it provides a uniform semantic foundation for resources monitoring and reconfiguration. Adopting models at runtime allows one to integrate different aspects of system management, such as resource monitoring and subsequent verification into an unified view which would otherwise have to be done manually and require to use different tools. It also simplifies the development of various self-adaptation strategies without requiring the engineers and researchers to cope with low-level system complexities. @InProceedings{MODELS15p100, author = {Filip Křikava and Romain Rouvoy and Lionel Seinturier}, title = {Infrastructure as Runtime Models: Towards Model-Driven Resource Management}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {100--105}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Soltana, Ghanem |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Model-Based Framework for ..."
A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies
Ghanem Soltana, Nicolas Sannier, Mehrdad Sabetzadeh, and Lionel C. Briand (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Legal policy simulation is an important decision-support tool in domains such as taxation. The primary goal of legal policy simulation is predicting how changes in the law affect measures of interest, e.g., revenue. Currently, legal policies are simulated via a combination of spreadsheets and software code. This poses a validation challenge both due to complexity reasons and due to legal experts lacking the expertise to understand software code. A further challenge is that representative data for simulation may be unavailable, thus necessitating a data generator. We develop a framework for legal policy simulation that is aimed at addressing these challenges. The framework uses models for specifying both legal policies and the probabilistic characteristics of the underlying population. We devise an automated algorithm for simulation data generation. We evaluate our framework through a case study on Luxembourg's Tax Law. @InProceedings{MODELS15p70, author = {Ghanem Soltana and Nicolas Sannier and Mehrdad Sabetzadeh and Lionel C. Briand}, title = {A Model-Based Framework for Probabilistic Simulation of Legal Policies}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {70--79}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Stephan, Matthew |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Identification of Simulink ..."
Identification of Simulink Model Antipattern Instances using Model Clone Detection
Matthew Stephan and James R. Cordy (Miami University, USA; Queen's University, Canada) One challenge facing the Model-Driven Engineering community is the need for model quality assurance. Specifically, there should be better facilities for analyzing models automatically. One measure of quality is the presence or absence of good and bad properties, such as patterns and antipatterns, respectively. We elaborate on and validate our earlier idea of detecting patterns in model-based systems using model clone detection by devising a Simulink antipattern instance detector. We chose Simulink because it is prevalent in industry, has mature model clone detection techniques, and interests our industrial partners. We demonstrate our technique using near-miss cross-clone detection to find instances of Simulink antipatterns derived from the literature in four sets of public Simulink projects. We present our detection results, highlight interesting examples, and discuss potential improvements to our approach. We hope this work provides a first step in helping practitioners improve Simulink model quality and further research in the area. @InProceedings{MODELS15p276, author = {Matthew Stephan and James R. Cordy}, title = {Identification of Simulink Model Antipattern Instances using Model Clone Detection}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {276--285}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Szvetits, Michael |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Reusable Event Types for Models ..."
Reusable Event Types for Models at Runtime to Support the Examination of Runtime Phenomena
Michael Szvetits and Uwe Zdun (University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Austria; University of Vienna, Austria) Today's software is getting more and more complex and harder to understand. Models help to organize knowledge and emphasize the structure of a software at a higher abstraction level. While the usage of model-driven techniques is widely adopted during software construction, it is still an open research topic if models can also be used to make runtime phenomena more comprehensible as well. It is not obvious which models are suitable for manual analysis and which model elements can be related to what type of runtime events. This paper proposes a collection of runtime event types that can be reused for various systems and meta-models. Based on these event types, information can be derived which help human observers to assess the current system state. Our approach is applied in a case study and evaluated regarding generalisability and completeness by relating it to two different meta-models. @InProceedings{MODELS15p4, author = {Michael Szvetits and Uwe Zdun}, title = {Reusable Event Types for Models at Runtime to Support the Examination of Runtime Phenomena}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {4--13}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Troya, Javier |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fully Verifying Transformation ..."
Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL
Bentley James Oakes, Javier Troya, Levi Lúcio, and Manuel Wimmer (McGill University, Canada; Vienna University of Technology, Austria) The Atlas Transformation Language (ATL) is today a de-facto standard in model-driven development. It is understood by the community that methods for exhaustively verifying such transformations provide an important pillar for achieving a stronger adoption of model-driven development in industry. In this paper we propose a method for verifying ATL model transformations by translating them into DSLTrans, a transformation language with limited expressiveness. Pre-/post-condition contracts are then verified on the resulting DSLTrans specification using a symbolic-execution property prover. The technique we present in this paper is exhaustive for the declarative ATL subset, meaning that if a contract holds, it will hold when any input model is passed to the ATL transformation being checked. We examine the scalability of our technique using a set of examples, including a model transformation developed in collaboration with our industrial partner. @InProceedings{MODELS15p256, author = {Bentley James Oakes and Javier Troya and Levi Lúcio and Manuel Wimmer}, title = {Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {256--265}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Valentim, Natasha M. Costa |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Controlled Experiment with ..."
A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques
Natasha M. Costa Valentim, Jacilane Rabelo, Ana Carolina Oran, Tayana Conte, and Sabrina Marczak (Federal University of Amazonas, Brazil; PUCRS, Brazil) A Use Case Model is composed of use cases that describe software functionalities through Use Case Specifications. The evaluation of the specifications that compose such a model can allow for an early identification of usability defects. We previously proposed MIT 1—Model Inspection Technique for Usability Evaluation that aims to support the identification of usability defects through the evaluation of use cases specifications. In this paper, we present the evaluation of this technique through a controlled experiment that measured its efficiency, effectiveness, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness when compared to the Use Case Evaluation (UCE) method. Our quantitative findings indicate that MIT 1 allows users to find more usability defects in less time than UCE. However, UCE was considered easiest to use and more useful than MIT 1, highlighting improvement needs for MIT 1. @InProceedings{MODELS15p206, author = {Natasha M. Costa Valentim and Jacilane Rabelo and Ana Carolina Oran and Tayana Conte and Sabrina Marczak}, title = {A Controlled Experiment with Usability Inspection Techniques Applied to Use Case Specifications: Comparing the MIT 1 and the UCE Techniques}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {206--215}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Vallecillo, Antonio |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Employing Classifying Terms ..."
Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations
Martin Gogolla, Antonio Vallecillo, Loli Burgueño, and Frank Hilken (University of Bremen, Germany; University of Málaga, Spain) This contribution proposes a new technique for developing test cases for UML and OCL models. The technique is based on an approach that automatically constructs object models for class models enriched by OCL constraints. By guiding the construction process through so-called classifying terms, the built test cases in form of object models are classified into equivalence classes. A classifying term can be an arbitrary OCL term on the class model that calculates for an object model a characteristic value. From each equivalence class of object models with identical characteristic values one representative is chosen. The constructed test cases behave significantly different with regard to the selected classifying term. By building few diverse object models, properties of the UML and OCL model can be explored effectively. The technique is applied for automatically constructing relevant source model test cases for model transformations between a source and target metamodel. @InProceedings{MODELS15p312, author = {Martin Gogolla and Antonio Vallecillo and Loli Burgueño and Frank Hilken}, title = {Employing Classifying Terms for Testing Model Transformations}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {312--321}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Vara Larsen, Matias Ezequiel |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "A Behavioral Coordination ..."
A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)
Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen, Julien DeAntoni, Benoit Combemale , and Frédéric Mallet (University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France; INRIA, France; University of Rennes 1, France) The design of complex systems involves various, possibly heterogeneous, structural and behavioral models. In model-driven engineering, the coordination of behavioral models to produce a single integrated model is necessary to provide support for validation and verification. Indeed, it allows system designers to understand and validate the global and emerging behavior of the system. However, the manual coordination of models is tedious and error-prone, and current approaches to automate the coordination are bound to a fixed set of coordination patterns. In this paper, we propose a Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL) to reify coordination patterns between specific domains by using coordination operators between the Domain-Specific Modeling Languages used in these domains. Those operators are then used to automate the coordination of models conforming to these languages. We illustrate the use of BCOoL with the definition of coordination operators between timed finite state machines and activity diagrams. @InProceedings{MODELS15p186, author = {Matias Ezequiel Vara Larsen and Julien DeAntoni and Benoit Combemale and Frédéric Mallet}, title = {A Behavioral Coordination Operator Language (BCOoL)}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {186--195}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Video |
|
Weisemöller, Ingo |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific ..."
Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages
Katrin Hölldobler, Bernhard Rumpe , and Ingo Weisemöller (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) Model transformations are helpful to evolve, refactor, refine and maintain models. While domain-specific languages are normally intuitive for modelers, common model transforma- tion approaches (regardless of whether they transform graphical or textual models) are based on the modeling language’s abstract syntax requiring the modeler to learn the internal representation of the model to describe transformations. This paper presents a process that allows to systematically derive a textual domain- specific transformation language from the grammar of a given textual modeling language. As example, we apply this systematic derivation to UML class diagrams to obtain a domain-specific transformation language called CDTrans. CDTrans incorporates the concrete syntax of class diagrams which is already familiar to the modeler and extends it with a few transformation operators. To demonstrate the usefulness of the derived transformation language, we describe several refactoring transformations. @InProceedings{MODELS15p136, author = {Katrin Hölldobler and Bernhard Rumpe and Ingo Weisemöller}, title = {Systematically Deriving Domain-Specific Transformation Languages}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {136--145}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Wille, Robert |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Checking Concurrent Behavior ..."
Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models
Nils Przigoda, Christoph Hilken, Robert Wille, Jan Peleska, and Rolf Drechsler (University of Bremen, Germany; DFKI, Germany) The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a de-facto standard for software development and, together with the Object Constraint Language (OCL), allows for a precise description of a system prior to its implementation. At the same time, these descriptions can be employed to check the consistency and, hence, the correctness of a given UML/OCL model. In the recent past, numerous (automated) approaches have been proposed for this purpose. The behavior of the systems has usually been considered by means of sequence diagrams, state machines, and activity diagrams. But with the increasing popularity of design by contract, also composite structures, classes, and operations are frequently used to describe behavior in UML/OCL. However, for these description means no solution for the validation and verification of concurrent behavior is available yet. In this work, we propose such a solution. To this end, we discuss the possible interpretations of “concurrency” which are admissible according to the common UML/OCL interpretation and, afterwards, propose a methodology which exploits solvers for SAT Modulo Theories (i.e., SMT solvers) in order to check the concurrent behavior of UML/OCL models. How to address the resulting problems is described and illustrated by means of a running example. Finally, the application of the proposed method is demonstrated. @InProceedings{MODELS15p176, author = {Nils Przigoda and Christoph Hilken and Robert Wille and Jan Peleska and Rolf Drechsler}, title = {Checking Concurrent Behavior in UML/OCL Models}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {176--185}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } MODELS '15-FOUND: "Extracting Frame Conditions ..." Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts Philipp Niemann, Frank Hilken, Martin Gogolla, and Robert Wille (University of Bremen, Germany) In behavioral modeling, operation contracts defined by pre- and postconditions describe the effects on model properties (i.e., model elements such as attributes, links, etc.) that are enforced by an operation. However, it is usually omitted which model properties should not be modified. Defining so-called frame conditions can fill this gap. But, thus far, these have to be defined manually – a time-consuming task. In this work, we propose a methodology which aims to support the modeler in the definition of the frame conditions by extracting suggestions based on an automatic analysis of operation contracts provided in OCL. More precisely, the proposed approach performs a structural analysis of pre- and postconditions together with invariants in order to categorize which class and object properties are clearly “variable” or “unaffected” – and which are “ambiguous”, i.e. indeed require a more thorough inspection. The developed concepts are implemented as a prototype and evaluated by means of several example models known from the literature. @InProceedings{MODELS15p266, author = {Philipp Niemann and Frank Hilken and Martin Gogolla and Robert Wille}, title = {Extracting Frame Conditions from Operation Contracts}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {266--275}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } Info |
|
Wimmer, Manuel |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Fully Verifying Transformation ..."
Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL
Bentley James Oakes, Javier Troya, Levi Lúcio, and Manuel Wimmer (McGill University, Canada; Vienna University of Technology, Austria) The Atlas Transformation Language (ATL) is today a de-facto standard in model-driven development. It is understood by the community that methods for exhaustively verifying such transformations provide an important pillar for achieving a stronger adoption of model-driven development in industry. In this paper we propose a method for verifying ATL model transformations by translating them into DSLTrans, a transformation language with limited expressiveness. Pre-/post-condition contracts are then verified on the resulting DSLTrans specification using a symbolic-execution property prover. The technique we present in this paper is exhaustive for the declarative ATL subset, meaning that if a contract holds, it will hold when any input model is passed to the ATL transformation being checked. We examine the scalability of our technique using a set of examples, including a model transformation developed in collaboration with our industrial partner. @InProceedings{MODELS15p256, author = {Bentley James Oakes and Javier Troya and Levi Lúcio and Manuel Wimmer}, title = {Fully Verifying Transformation Contracts for Declarative ATL}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {256--265}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Yskout, Koen |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "SoSPa: A System of Security ..."
SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems
Phu H. Nguyen, Koen Yskout, Thomas Heyman, Jacques Klein , Riccardo Scandariato, and Yves Le Traon (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Simula Research Laboratory, Norway; KU Leuven, Belgium; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Model-Driven Security (MDS) for secure systems development still has limitations to be more applicable in practice. A recent systematic review of MDS shows that current MDS approaches have not dealt with multiple security concerns systematically. Besides, catalogs of security patterns which can address multiple security concerns have not been applied efficiently. This paper presents an MDS approach based on a unified System of Security design Patterns (SoSPa). In SoSPa, security design patterns are collected, specified as reusable aspect models to form a coherent system of them that guides developers in systematically addressing multiple security concerns. SoSPa consists of not only interrelated security design patterns but also a refinement process towards their application. We applied SoSPa to design the security of crisis management systems. The result shows that multiple security concerns in the case study have been addressed by systematically integrating different security solutions. @InProceedings{MODELS15p246, author = {Phu H. Nguyen and Koen Yskout and Thomas Heyman and Jacques Klein and Riccardo Scandariato and Yves Le Traon}, title = {SoSPa: A System of Security Design Patterns for Systematically Engineering Secure Systems}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {246--255}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
|
Zdun, Uwe |
MODELS '15-FOUND: "Reusable Event Types for Models ..."
Reusable Event Types for Models at Runtime to Support the Examination of Runtime Phenomena
Michael Szvetits and Uwe Zdun (University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Austria; University of Vienna, Austria) Today's software is getting more and more complex and harder to understand. Models help to organize knowledge and emphasize the structure of a software at a higher abstraction level. While the usage of model-driven techniques is widely adopted during software construction, it is still an open research topic if models can also be used to make runtime phenomena more comprehensible as well. It is not obvious which models are suitable for manual analysis and which model elements can be related to what type of runtime events. This paper proposes a collection of runtime event types that can be reused for various systems and meta-models. Based on these event types, information can be derived which help human observers to assess the current system state. Our approach is applied in a case study and evaluated regarding generalisability and completeness by relating it to two different meta-models. @InProceedings{MODELS15p4, author = {Michael Szvetits and Uwe Zdun}, title = {Reusable Event Types for Models at Runtime to Support the Examination of Runtime Phenomena}, booktitle = {Proc.\ MODELS}, publisher = {IEEE}, pages = {4--13}, doi = {}, year = {2015}, } |
106 authors
proc time: 0.37