Evolution in a context of an model-integrated tool environment

Abstract

Model-transformation tools are a central part of model-integrated computing (MIC): they enable the mapping and refinement of models into other forms, such as documentation and code. The tools supporting language and translator evolution are not isolated: they interact with other tools of the model-based environments. In previous work, we found that several tools supporting key tasks in the MIC process, such as model migration and model synchronization, are readily implemented as specialized instances of general-purpose transformation languages. However, the integration of such specialized tools is complicated chiefly due to language evolution and traceability. This paper describes the integration of evolution tools into a tool suite performing common MIC tasks and the challenges that we faced during this integration. By describing our toolchain applied to a case study, we describe additional requirements demanded by context of the evolution tools. Moreover, our experiences lead us to believe that although domain-specific transformation tools that concisely describe a subset of commonly occurring problems are more useful to industrial partners with domain-expertise than general purpose transformation tools, designing for evolution turns out to be critical.