Modeling the Linguistic Architecture of Software Products

Status

In Proceedings of MODELS 2012

Authors

Jean-Marie Favre, Ralf Lämmel, and Andrei Varanovich

Abstract

Understanding modern software products is challenging along several dimensions. In the past, much attention has been focused on the logical and physical architecture of the products in terms of the relevant components, features, files, and tools. In contrast, in this paper, we focus on the linguistic architecture of software products in terms of the involved software languages and related technologies, and technological spaces with linguistic relationships such as membership, subset, or conformance. We develop a designated form of megamodeling with corresponding language and tool support. An important capability of the megamodeling approach is that entities and relationships of the megamodel are linked to illustrative software artifacts. This is particularly important during the understanding process for validation purposes. We demonstrate such megamodeling for a technology for Object/XML mapping. This work contributes to the 101companies community project.

Keywords

Megamodel. Linguistic architecture. Software language. Software technology. Technological space. Object/XML mapping. MegaL.

Bibtex entry

DBLP

Downloads and links

• Final paper: [.pdf]
• Slide decks:
  • University of Bergen, 10 Sep 2013: slideshare (latest; recommended)
  • McMaster University, 21 June 2012: [.pdf] (outdated)
  • University of Alamaba, SE Group, 11 May 2012: [.pdf]
  • IPA Spring School, 19 April 2012: [.pdf] (outdated)
  • AtlanMod, Nantes, 15 Feb 2012: [.pdf] (specialized in MT)
• Related online resources:
  • The 101companies.org website
  • An introductory paper to 101companies
  • Megamodel for Object/XML mapping:
    • The paper's model: graphical notation (MegaL/yEd)
    • The underlying 101companies implementation xsdClasses
  • A generic and detailed megamodel for Object/XML mapping: [.pdf]