An Algebraic View on the Semantics of Model Composition

Abstract

Abstract. Due to the increased complexity of software development projects more and more systems are described by models. The sheer size makes it impractical to describe these systems by a single model. Instead many models are developed that provide several complementary views on the system to be developed. This however leads to a need for compositional models. This paper describes a foundational theory of model composition in form of an algebra to explicitly clarify different variants and uses of composition, their interplay with the semantics of the involved models and their composition operators.

Considerations and Rationale for a UML System Model

“…In [13] UML actions are formalized using the system model as a semantic domain. The system model also forms the basis for characterizing the semantics of model composition [23] as part of the MODELPLEX project.…”

A reference process for model composition

“…Rumpe et al proposed an algebraic view on the semantics of model composition in [6]. The proposed algebra allows clarifying the variations and the uses of model composition.…”

“…There is a gap between the semantics of a model, that is the set of concepts held in the modeler's mind, and its syntactic form as defined in a given metamodel. The problem presented by this gap has already been identified and has given rise to a classification of model composition operators [6]. Even though most existing approaches claim to provide an operator for model composition, they are all implemented as a parametrized sequence of operations on some sets of objects.…”

Composition of architectural models: Empirical analysis and language support

“…Bendix and Emanuelsson (2009) and Mehra et al (2005) provide support for differencing and merging diagrams for version control. Yet others define a generic approach for differencing and merging control (Mehra et al (2005)), a reference process (Jeanneret et al (2008)), a generic approach (Fleurey et al (2008)), a canonical scheme (Bzivin et al (2006)) and an algebraic view on the semantics (Herrmann et al (2007)) of model merging.…”