Diagrammatic Development of Domain Specific Modelling Languages with WebDPF

Abstract

Domain specific modelling languages reduce the effort required to specify systems by providing higher level abstractions. Although this is a promising approach for reducing the complexity of system specifications, creating a new domain specific modelling language is a complex task. WebDPF is a web-based metamodelling tool that aims to reduce the effort required to develop domain specific modelling languages. The proposed technique is based on model transformations which enhances a modelling language with auto-completion. WebDPF supports multilevel metamodelling, diagrammatic specification of model constraints, and development, simulation and analysis of model transformation systems. The authors study the termination of the underlying model transformation systems and provide sufficient condition for termination. The tool is equipped with a scalable model navigation facility that enables a modeler to deal with large models.