On the use of graph transformations for model composition traceability

Abstract

Abstract-The model composition provides support to build systems based on a set of less complex sub-models. This operation allows managing complexity while supporting the modularity and reusability tasks. Due to the increase number of the involving models, their composition becomes a tedious task. For that, the need for maintaining traceability information is raised to help managing the composition operation. We propose in this work a graph-based model transformations approach, which aims to keep track of the model composition operation. Our objective is to capture traces in an automatic and reusable manner. Finally, a composition scenario is given to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposal.

A dedicated approach for model composition traceability

“…Hence, a context can be viewed as a well thought out combination of attributes, and it can be used to structure a set of traces that share the same contextual information. We have to notice that mechanisms for generating contexts were presented in a previous work [10] and are not within the scope of this paper.…”

“…Finally, the remaining unit removes all the temporary data we use to achieve the weaving operation and which pollute the specification model. The specialization of this weaving process for the EML [11] and ATL [12] languages is detailed in our former works [9,10] .…”

“…In addition, the call to the equivalent () operation has been captured and replaced with the fragment that divides its return into trace model elements and default target elements ( Listing 1 , lines [10][11][12]. The first sub-set is used to perform the original call to the equivalent () operation ( Listing 1 , line 11), while traceability elements are assigned as children of the current trace link ( Listing 1 , line 12).…”

“…In previous works [9,10] , we presented the specialization of this traces generation process for the Epsilon Merging Language EML [11] and the ATLAS Transformation Language ATL [12] . We described the corresponding traces generation patterns as well as mechanisms to perform the weaving of these patterns into the composition specifications.…”

A Generic Traceability Framework for Model Composition Operation

“…Fig. 3 depicts our composition traceability metamodel [2]. It specifies two types of trace links: merging links and translation links.…”