On the Use of Graph Transformation in the Formal Specification of Model Interpreters

Gabor Karsai (Institute for Software Integrated, Systems ISIS Vanderbilt University, USA)

Aditya Agrawal (Institute for Software Integrated, Systems ISIS Vanderbilt University, USA)

Feng Shi (Institute for Software Integrated, Systems ISIS Vanderbilt University, USA)

Jonathan Sprinkle (Institute for Software Integrated, Systems ISIS Vanderbilt University, USA)

Abstract: Model-based development necessitates the transformation of models between different stages and tools of the design process. These transformations must be precisely, preferably formally, specified, such that end-to-end semantic interoperability is maintained. The paper introduces a graph-transformation-based technique for specifying these model transformations, gives a formal definition for the semantics of the transformation language, describes an implementation of the language, and illustrates its use through an example.

Keywords: domain-specific modeling languages, formal specifications, graph grammars, graph transformations, model-driven architecture, model-integrated computing

Categories: D.2.2