Plug & play model transformations: a DSL for resolving structural metamodel heterogeneities

Abstract

Model transformations play a key role in the vision of Model-Driven Engineering. Thereby, the resolution of structural heterogeneities between metamodels (MMs) represents the key challenge. For this task, current approaches require the definition of partly tricky, low-level recurring transformation logic but neglect to offer reusable components. Moreover, little attention has been paid to heterogeneities caused by the concept of inheritance, although extensively used in MMs. Therefore, we propose to specify model transformations in a plug & and play manner by a set of pre-defined mapping operators (MOps) representing a DSL to resolve structural heterogeneities. For coping with inheritance in MMs, we introduce an inheritance mechanism between MOps allowing to reuse parts of the mapping definitions. Moreover, dedicated MOps for resolving heterogeneities when one MM comprises inheritance hierarchies whereas the other one does not are presented, which are well-known problems in object-relational transformations and object-oriented refactorings.