Automatic generation of model traversals from metamodel definitions

Abstract

Developing software from models is a growing practice and there exist many model-based tools (e.g., model editors, model interpreters) for supporting model-driven engineering. Even though these tools facilitate the automation of software engineering tasks and activities, such tools are typically engineered manually. In this paper, a simple technique is described that enables automatic generation of model traversals. Semantic rules can be inserted into a traversal algorithm to provide meaning to the modeling language. The combination of automated traversal generation with attached semantic rules can generate a model interpreter that can translate a model into some other representation.