A Framework for Verifying Model Transformations
Speaker: Junhua Wang, ITEE
When: 2005-05-30 15:00:00
Venue: 78-622
Host: David Carrington
Abstract:Progress in software development is evident from the fact that it is
now feasible to build much more complex and larger systems. But
software development is still an area in which developers are
struggling with major problems. For example, coding is labour
intensive. Models, over time, become obsolete because no one is
interested in reading and maintaining them.
One major reason for the above problems is that models are read,
understood and maintained only by human beings, not by machines. In
other words, models are not the central artefacts in software
development like source code. Thus to make models primary artefacts,
the Object Management Group (OMG) initiated a framework called the
Model Driven Architecture (MDA) in 2000.
Model transformation is the most important concept and vital for the
success of MDA, and many organizations have proposed model
transformation approaches. But little has been done on Verification
and Validation (V&V) of model transformations, which is as critical
as the testing stage in the traditional software development
process.
This research investigates verification and validation of model
transformations, and provides a framework based on the metamodelling
technique. A set of properties regarding transformation rules will
be identified, including generic and specific properties to source
and target metamodels. Among them, two significant generic
properties, metamodel coverage and semantics preservation, are
discussed for possible approaches to verifying them. Due to various
metamodels and potential properties, the research also proposes a
metamodel to facilitate their verification. Based on the Eclipse
Modelling Framework, a supporting tool for the framework will be
developed as a proof of concept.
Biography:(biography unavailable)
Type: Ph.D confirmation
Contact:David Carrington, seminar host (davec@itee.uq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)