Abstract
Textual editors are omnipresent in all software tools. Editors provide basic features, such as copy-pasting and searching, or more advanced features, such as error checking and text completion. Current technologies in model-driven engineering can automatically generate textual editors to manipulate domain-specific languages (DSLs). However, the customization and addition of new features to these editors is often limited to changing the internal structure and behavior. In this paper, we explore a new generation of self-descriptive textual editors for DSLs, allowing full configuration of their structure and behavior in a convenient formalism, rather than in source code. We demonstrate the feasibility of the approach by providing a prototype implementation and applying it in two domain-specific modeling scenarios, including one in architecture modeling.
Highlights
model-driven engineering (MDE) has been widely applied in software engineering [2,3], we still observe a considerable shortage of customizable modeling tools for mainstream languages, such as the ones proposed by the OMG (e.g., UML class diagrams, SysML [4]) and SAE (e.g., Analysis Design Language (AADL) [5])
We explore the feasibility of customizing textual editors for domain-specific languages (DSLs) by explicitly modeling their structure and behavior
We study and discuss the feasibility of employing the Statecharts + Class Diagrams formalism to customize the reactive behavior of editors
Summary
MDE offers an automated control of customizations based on abstract syntax structures, such as metamodels. This allows software designers to reuse tools generated from models in a wide range of application domains, while being predictable and ensuring a certain degree of correctness. MDE has been widely applied in software engineering [2,3], we still observe a considerable shortage of customizable modeling tools for mainstream languages, such as the ones proposed by the OMG (e.g., UML class diagrams, SysML [4]) and SAE (e.g., AADL [5]). Current technologies in MDE, such as MPS [1] and Xtext [6], can automatically generate textual editors to manipulate domain-specific languages (DSLs)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
