Logical aspects of dynamic meta-models

and user-model interaction Peter Krall

6th Workshop on Domain Specific Modelling

What if …

• … the model‘s functionality serves to develop the model?

• … it‘s difficult to isolate model and meta-model development?

Basic situation (non-mdd)

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

SolutionSS =SD SI

ΣS= ΣD ΣI

TS =TD TI

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

Semantic correspondence

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Solution

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

SM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

MTM

: TM M ??

Correct Solution

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Solution

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

SM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

T MTM

: TM M

Dynamic integration

Dynamic integration

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

ModelSM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

MTM

: TM M

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model transformation-model

Model-editor

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

Integration, grammar-based

DModel Implementation

Document(LD) Document(LI)

Clear separation between model and meta-model!

Parser / generator

Template(LT)

model

meta-model

DModel Implementation

Document(LD) Document(LI)

Crawler / generator

Template(LT)

Grammar based integration, variant

DModel Implementation

Document(LD) Document(LI)

The model contains elements – the templates - with meta-level semantics.

Parser / generator

Template(LT)modelmeta-model

DModel Implementation

Document(LD) Document(LI)

Crawler / generator

Template(LT)

Integration scheme / OO

DModel Implementation

Model and meta-model interwoven: model elements represent application types and implement functionality for model integration

Rules(LR)

model

meta-model

messages

interpret

update

DModel Implementation

Rules(LR)

messages

interpret

update

Dynamic transformation model

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

ModelSM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

MTM

: TM M

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

transformation-model

Model-editor

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

Transformation-model

Model/user-interaction(DI)

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

ModelSM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

MTM

: TM M

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model transformation-model

Model-editor

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

Model-editor-Ifc

Model-user interaction

Model functionality is used at construction time of the model

Model element instances:

• are hosted by the development environment

• implement an interface for user interaction within the meta-model

Model / Meta-model integration

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

ModelSM =SD SI

ΣM= ΣD ΣI

TM=TD TI

MTM

: TM M

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

transformation-model

Model-editor

SD ΣD

TD:SDΣDSD

SI ΣI

TI:SIΣISI

Transformation-model

Model-editor-Ifc

Structural integration

Structural integration (logic)

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Model SM

ΣM

TM:SMΣMSM

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

Model-editor

SD=SM /D ΣD=ΣM /D TD=TM /D

SI=SM /I ΣI=ΣM /I TI=TM /I

Modifieable structural integration

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Model SM

ΣM

TM:SMΣMSM

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

Model-editor

SD=SM /D ΣD=ΣM /D TD=TM /D

SI=SM /I ΣI=ΣM /I TI=TM /I

Ifc-element-editor

Structural model integration schemes

DModeltransient

Implementationtransient

Model-Document(LM)

LM/I

LM/D

Model-elementBase

<<abstract>>

Model-elementDomain

<<abstract>>Model-elementImpl

<<abstract>>

Model-element

Structural integration

A single model is splitted into part models providing views in different abstraction

Relation between part models is integrated in the meta-model‘s class structure (or relation between grammars)

Modification of meta-model requires access to the meta-model‘s class system

Model / user interaction (SI)

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Model SM

ΣM

TM:SMΣMSM

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

Model-editor

SD=SM /D ΣD=ΣM /D TD=TM /D

SI=SM /I ΣI=ΣM /I TI=TM /I

Model-editor-Ifc

Final

Domain model

Implementation

Partial model

Model SM

ΣM

TM:SMΣMSM

Solution

Solution-model

meta-model

Model-editor

SD=SM /D ΣD=ΣM /D TD=TM /D

SI=SM /I ΣI=ΣM /I TI=TM /I

Ifc-element-editor

Model-editor

Model-editor-Ifc

M

If …

• … the model‘s functionality serves to develop the model?

• … it‘s difficult to isolate model and meta-model development?

…the meta-model will declare functions for modelling that are implemented as interfaces by model elements. These model elements are hosted in the IDE (or so). Object oriented meta-meta models are worth being considered for model integration.