An agile process for the example-driven development of modelling languages and environments

• Autores: Jesús J. López Fernández
• Directores de la Tesis: Juan de Lara Jaramillo (dir. tes.), Esther Guerra Sánchez (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid ( España ) en 2017
• Idioma: español
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Antonio Vallecillo Moreno (presid.), Juan Manuel Vara Mesa (secret.), Dimitrios Kolovos (voc.)
• Materias:
  • Matemáticas
    • Ciencia de los ordenadores
      • Informática
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: Biblos-e Archivo
• Resumen

  • Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs) are heavily used in model-driven and end-user development approaches. Compared to general-purpose languages, DSMLs present numerous benefits like powerful domain-specific primitives, an intuitive syntax for domain experts, and the possibility of advanced code generation for narrow domains. While a graphical syntax is sometimes desired for a DSML, constructing graphical modelling environments is a costly and highly technical task. This relegates domain experts to a rather passive role in their development and hinders a wider adoption of graphical DSMLs.

    The aim of this dissertation is achieving a simpler DSML construction process where domain experts can contribute actively. For this purpose, an example-based process for the automatic generation of modelling environments for graphical DSMLs is proposed. This way, starting from examples of the DSML likely provided by domain experts using drawing tools, the proposed system synthesizes a graphical modelling environment that mimics the syntax of the provided examples. This includes a meta-model for the abstract syntax of the DSML, and a graphical concrete syntax supporting spatial relationships.

    Moreover, despite being essential activities in this field, there are scarce tools and methods supporting the Validation and Verification (V&V) of DSMLs. In order to fill this gap, three complementary meta-model V&V languages are presented. These languages provide means for testing a DSML through three V&V approches: unit testing, specification-based testing and reverse testing. These two contributions receive tool support in a prototype application comprising metaBup, a system for building DSML editors from graphical examples, and metaBest, its corresponding testing suite. The process and the prototype have been validated through several experiments, including a user study.