Automatic extraction of PEPA performance models from UML activity diagrams annotated with the MARTE profile

Recent trends in software engineering lean towards modelcentric development methodologies, a context in which the UML plays a crucial role. To provide modellers with quantitative insights into their artifacts, the UML benefits from a framework for software performance evaluation provided by MARTE, the UML profile for model-driven development of Real Time and Embedded Systems. MARTE offers a rich semantics which is general enough to allow different quantitative analysis techniques to act as underlying performance engines. In the present paper we explore the use of the stochastic process algebra PEPA as one such engine, providing a procedure to systematically map activity diagrams onto PEPA models. Independent activity flows are translated into sequential automata which co-ordinate at the synchronisation points expressed by fork and join nodes of the activity. The PEPA performance model is interpreted against a Markovian semantics which allows the calculation of performance indices such as throughput and utilisation. We also discuss the implementation of a new software tool powered by the popular Eclipse platform which implements the fully automatic translation from MARTE-annotated UML activity diagrams to PEPA models.