An Approach of Defining Domain Constraints for Domain-Specific Modeling Language

Abstract

Many Domain-Specific Modeling Languages (DSML) cannot formally define their semantics, leading to difficulties in identifying user-defined domain constraints. In this study, we propose a user-defined mechanism of domain constraints based on the formalization of structural semantics of DSML. First, we formally define concepts and decision methods of consistency and validity of domain constraints. Subsequently, we establish concepts and reasoning methods of domain-based model consistency. Thus, several domain constraint instances are defined and different models instances’ consistency are reasoned based on formalization of software architecture domain metamodel to illustrate our approach. Finally, our formal definition mechanism of domain constraint is added to our automatic translator for formalizing DSML and its models to automatically reason about domain constraints built based on DSML.