Model-Driven Constraint Engineering

By Michael Wahler, Jana Koehler, and Achim D. Brucker.

A high level of detail and well-formedness of models have become crucial ingredients in model-driven development. Constraints play a central role in model precision and validity. However, the task of constraint development is time-consuming and error-prone because constraints can be arbitrarily complex in real-world models. To overcome this problem, we propose a solution that we call model-driven constraint engineering. In our solution, we define constraint patterns, add structure and develop a taxonomy for them. The constraint patterns integrate into the UML meta-model. These computation-independent, parameterized patterns are transformed into platform-independent constraints by a model transformation. In addition, we show how our approach can be supported by a tool.

Keywords:
Constraint, Pattern, Model-Driven Engineering, UML, OCL

Obsoleted by:
This publication has been obsoleted by the following publication:
M. Wahler, D. Basin, A. D. Brucker, and J. Koehler, “Efficient analysis of pattern-based constraint specifications,” Software and Systems Modeling, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 225–255, Apr. 2010, doi: 10.1007/s10270-009-0123-6. Author copy: http://logicalhacking.com/publications/wahler.ea-efficient-2010/

Please cite this work as follows:
M. Wahler, J. Koehler, and A. D. Brucker, “Model-driven constraint engineering,” Electronic Communications of the EASST, vol. 5, 2006, doi: 10.14279/tuj.eceasst.5.44. Author copy: http://logicalhacking.com/publications/wahler.ea-model-driven-2006-b/

BibTeX
@Article{ wahler.ea:model-driven:2006-b,
  abstract    = {A high level of detail and well-formedness of models have
                 become crucial ingredients in model-driven development.
                 Constraints play a central role in model precision and
                 validity. However, the task of constraint development is
                 time-consuming and error-prone because constraints can be
                 arbitrarily complex in real-world models. To overcome this
                 problem, we propose a solution that we call model-driven
                 constraint engineering. In our solution, we define constraint
                 patterns, add structure and develop a taxonomy for them. The
                 constraint patterns integrate into the UML meta-model. These
                 computation-independent, parameterized patterns are
                 transformed into platform-independent constraints by a model
                 transformation. In addition, we show how our approach can be
                 supported by a tool.},
  author      = {Michael Wahler and Jana Koehler and Achim D. Brucker},
  language    = {USenglish},
  areas       = {software},
  keywords    = {Constraint, Pattern, Model-Driven Engineering, UML, OCL},
  title       = {Model-Driven Constraint Engineering},
  editor      = {Birgith Demuth and Dan Chiorean and Martin Gogolla and Jos
                 Warmer},
  issn        = {1863-2122},
  volume      = {5},
  year        = {2006},
  obsoletedby = {wahler.ea:efficient:2010},
  journal     = {Electronic Communications of the EASST },
  doi         = {10.14279/tuj.eceasst.5.44},
  note        = {Author copy: \url{http://logicalhacking.com/publications/wahler.ea-model-driven-2006-b/}},
}