Semantics Of Domain-Specific Modeling Languages Research Articles

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

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.

Formalizing the structural semantics of domain-specific modeling languages

Model-based approaches to system design are now widespread and successful. These approaches make extensive use of model structure to describe systems using domain-specific abstractions, to specify and implement model transformations, and to analyze structural properties of models. In spite of its general importance the structural semantics of modeling languages are not well-understood. In this paper we develop the formal foundations for the structural semantics of domain-specific modeling languages (DSML), including the mechanisms by which metamodels specify the structural semantics of DSMLs. Additionally, we show how our formalization can complement existing tools, and how it yields algorithms for the analysis of DSMLs and model transformations.