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Reuse in model-to-model transformation languages: are we there yet?

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Abstract

In the area of model-driven engineering, model transformations are proposed as the technique to systematically manipulate models. For increasing development productivity as well as quality of model transformations, reuse mechanisms are indispensable. Although numerous mechanisms have been proposed, no systematic comparison exists, making it unclear, which reuse mechanisms may be best employed in a certain situation. Thus, this paper provides an in-depth comparison of reuse mechanisms in model-to-model transformation languages and categorizes them along their intended scope of application. Finally, current barriers and facilitators to model transformation reuse are discussed.

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Notes

  1. http://www.kermeta.org.

  2. http://www.moflon.org.

  3. http://www.eclipse.org/viatra2.

  4. http://www.eclipse.org/atl.

  5. http://www.eclipse.org/epsilon/doc/etl.

  6. http://rubytl.rubyforge.org.

  7. http://www.eclipse.org/m2m/atl/atlTransformations.

  8. We refrain to speak about internal versus external DSLs, because this dichotomy reflects if a DSL is implemented by using the host language in which it is used or not. In contrast, we are only considering if the DSL is intended to be usable within a host language or not, independent of how it is implemented.

  9. http://ant.apache.org/.

  10. http://opensource.urszeidler.de/ATLflow/.

  11. Online at http://www.modeltransformation.net.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) under grant P21374-N13 and J3159-N23 as well as by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under project number 832160.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria

    A. Kusel, W. Retschitzegger & W. Schwinger

  2. Upper Austrian University of Applied Sciences, Hagenberg, Austria

    J. Schönböck

  3. University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain

    M. Wimmer

  4. Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria

    M. Wimmer & G. Kappel

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  1. A. Kusel
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Kusel, A., Schönböck, J., Wimmer, M. et al. Reuse in model-to-model transformation languages: are we there yet?. Softw Syst Model 14, 537–572 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-013-0343-7

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