IDFML: A Meta Language for Heterogeneous DSMLs Coordination

Abstract

The popularization of both Software Language Engineering (SLE) and Model Driven Engineering (MDE) as well as the increasing complexity of systems induce new implementation practices. Indeed, many teams of experts collaborate to implement a same system. Every team uses her own domain specific modeling language (DSML) to represent her concerns. Consequently, by the end of the modelling phase, we get many heterogeneous models elaborated using different DSMLs. These models need to be composed to get a whole view of systems, to be able to validate and simulate behaviors. However, many recent researches choose to compose modelling languages rather than models themselves, but until now there are no standard or generic techniques for that. Although, MDE and SLE provide tools and concepts for modeling, customizing and processing business concepts as single activities, in contrast they provide little support for coordinating between these activities. In this paper, authors propose an interface-based approach to coordinate DSMLS in order to compose and coordinate their respective models. They began by giving generic guidelines of DSMLs specification and composition aspects. Then, they introduce IDFML a Meta language for defining both DSMLs interfaces and coordination. Actually, the proposed Meta language gives a metamodeling background to coordination which enables to benefit from MDE tools and techniques. They finally demonstrate the applicability of the approach using a Connected Indoor Transport Service System to conclude by summarizing benefits of the proposed Methodology.