Comparing Transformation Possibilities of Topological Functioning Model and BPMN in the Context of Model Driven Architecture

Artūrs Solomencevs

doi:10.1515/acss-2016-0002

Abstract

Abstract The approach called “Topological Functioning Model for Software Engineering” (TFM4SE) applies the Topological Functioning Model (TFM) for modelling the business system in the context of Model Driven Architecture. TFM is a mathematically formal computation independent model (CIM). TFM4SE is compared to an approach that uses BPMN as a CIM. The comparison focuses on CIM modelling and on transformation to UML Sequence diagram on the platform independent (PIM) level. The results show the advantages and drawbacks the formalism of TFM brings into the development.

Highlights

OMG’s Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is a set of guidelines for system development, which pioneers application of models
MDA separates the viewpoints on the information system – it suggests three viewpoints with corresponding models: a computation independent model (CIM) focuses on information system’s environment and is used to specify requirements; platform independent model (PIM) focuses on the information system but hides platform specific details; and platform specific model (PSM) [1]
The discussion in this paper has been directed to the comparison of TFM4SE with model driven approaches that use BPMN for CIM modelling and provide CIM → PIM transformation

Summary

Introduction

OMG’s Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is a set of guidelines for system development, which pioneers application of models. MDA separates the viewpoints on the information system – it suggests three viewpoints with corresponding models: a computation independent model (CIM) focuses on information system’s environment and is used to specify requirements; platform independent model (PIM) focuses on the information system but hides platform specific details; and platform specific model (PSM) [1]. To get the source code, we need to go by the path: CIM → PIM → PSM → source code [1]. There is a belief that it is essential to start software development with modelling the business system, or in other words with modelling the environment of the planned information system [2], [3], [4]. CIM needs to be created at the beginning of the development process – this assertion is the basis of this article

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Conclusion