An Industrial Case Study on using Language Workbench Technology for Realizing Model-Driven Engineering

Xi Zhu, Congchi Phung, Lars Pareto, Staffan Ehnebom, Mikael Krekola, Magnus Christerson, Mats Helander

2014

Abstract

Model Driven Engineering (MDE) is a proven approach to improve software development processes by automation. However, traditional development of MDE tooling requires a high upfront cost. Recent developments in language workbench technologies promise to significantly reduce these investment costs. By providing domain experts with targeted projections, the speed and quality of delivering customer value is improved. This paper provides results from an industrial case study in the telecommunications domain and compares the value of using a language workbench to traditional MDE technologies. Evaluation of the approach was based on qualitative research strategy which involved a proof of concept implementation and effort estimations by tooling experts. Our results, using the Intentional Domain Workbench, indicate that applying a language workbench promises significant improvements in several aspects of MDE based software development. Most notably in this paper: (1) improved speed in development of domain specific tooling and (2) improved speed in software development process re-engineering.

References

  1. Brambilla, M., Cabot, J. & Wimmer, M., 2012. ModelDriven Software Engineering in Practice. Morgan & Claypool Publishers.
  2. Breugst, M. et al., 2000. Object Oriented Software Technologies in Telecommunications: From theory to practice. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  3. Caprio, G., 2006. Domain-Specific Languages & DSL Workbench. Dr. Dobb's Journal, (31), pp.38-41.
  4. Cook, S., Jones, G., Kent, S. & Wills, A.C., 2007. Domain-Specific Development with Visual Studio DSL Tools. 1st ed. Boston: Addison-Wesley Professional.
  5. Dhamdhere, D.M., 1999. Systems Programming and Operating Systems. Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
  6. Dmitriev, S., 2004. Language oriented programming: The next programming paradigm. (Online) JetBrains, at: http://www.jetbrains.com/mps/docs/Language_Oriente d_Programming.pdf [Accessed 02 November 2013].
  7. Fowler, M., 2010. Domain Specific Languages. Westford: Addison-Wesley.
  8. Hein, A.M., 2010. Identification and Bridging of Semantic Gaps in the Context of Multi-Domain Engineering. In Goldberg, D.E. & Michelfelder, D.P., eds. Abstracts of the 2010 Forum on Philosophy, Engineering & Technology. Colorado, 2010.
  9. Hermans, F., Pinzger, M. & Deursen, A.v., 2009. DomainSpecific Languages in Practice: A User Study on the Success Factors. In Schürr, A. & Selic, B., eds. 12th International Conference, MODELS 2009. Denver, 2009. Springer-Verlag.
  10. IBM, 2013. Rational Rhapsody Developer. (Online) http://www-142.ibm.com/software/products/us/en/- ratirhap
  11. Intentional Software, 2013. Intentional Software: Technology. (Online) http://www.intentsoft.com/- intentional-technology/
  12. Jørgensen, M., 2004. A review of studies on expert estimation of software development effort. Journal of Systems and Software, 70(1), pp.37-60.
  13. Jørgensen, M., 2007. Forecasting of software development work effort: evidence on expert judgement and formal models. International Journal of Forecasting, 23(3), pp.449-62.
  14. Kelly, S. & Tolvanen, J.P., 2000. Visual domain-specific modeling: Benefits and experiences of using metaCASE tools. In Proceedings of International Workshop on Model Engineering, at ECOOP 2000. Sophia Antipolis, Cannes, 2000.
  15. Kärnä, J., Tolvanen, J.P. & Kelly, S., 2009. Evaluating the use of domain-specific modeling in practice. In Proceedings of the 9th OOPSLA Workshop on Domain-Specific Modeling. Orlando, 2009. HSE Print.
  16. Mernik, M., Heering, J. & Sloane, A.M., 2005. When and How to Develop Domain-specific Languages. Journal ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), 37, pp.316-44.
  17. MetaCase, 2013. MetaEdit+ Domain-Specific Modeling tools. (Online) http://www.metacase.com/products.html ObjectStore, 2003. Object Data Management for Network Management Systems. Progress Software Corporation.
  18. Selic, B., 1998. Using UML for Modeling Complex RealTime Systems. In LCTES 7898 Proceedings of the ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Languages, Compilers, and Tools for Embedded Systems. London, 1998. SpringerVerlag.
  19. Simonyi, C., 1995. The Death of Computer Languages, The Birth of Intentional Programming. Technical Report. Redmond: Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Research.
  20. Simonyi, C., Christerson, M. & Clifford, S., 2006. Intentional Software. In OOPSLA 7806 Proceedings of the 21st annual ACM SIGPLAN conference on Objectoriented programming systems, languages, and applications. Portland, 2006. ACM SIGPLAN.
  21. Simulink, 2013. Simulink - Simulation and Model-based Design. (Online) http://www.mathworks.se/products/- simulink/
  22. Stoffel, R., 2010. Comparing Language Workbenches. MSE-seminar: Program Analysis and Transformation. Switzerland: University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil (HSR).
  23. The Eclipse Foundation, 2013. Eclipse Modeling Framework Project. (Online) http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/emf/
  24. Tolvanen, J.P. & Kelly, S., 2005. Defining domainspecific modeling languages to automate product derivation: Collected experiences. In 9th International Conference, SPLC 2005,. Rennes, 2005. SpringerVerlag.
  25. Ward, M., 1994. Language-oriented programming. Software - Concepts and Tools, pp.147-61.
  26. Voelter, M., 2010. Embedded software development with projectional language workbenches. In Proceedings of the 13th international conference on Model driven engineering languages and systems: Part II. Oslo, 2010. Springer-Verlag.
  27. Voelter, M. et al., 2013. DSL Engineering - Designing, Implementing and Using Domain-Specific Languages. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
  28. Voelter, M. & Pech, V., 2012. Language modularity with the MPS language workbench. In Software Engineering (ICSE), 2012 34th International Conference., 2012. IEEE.
  29. Voelter, M. & Visser, E., 2010. Language extension and composition with language workbenches. In Proceedings of the ACM international conference companion on Object oriented programming systems languages and applications companion., 2010. ACM.
  30. Wu, Y., Hernandez, F., Ortega, F. & Clarke, P.J., 2010. Measuring the Effort for Creating and Using DomainSpecific Models. In Proceedings of the 10th Workshop on Domain-Specific Modeling Systems Programming Languages and Applications: Software for Humanity. Reno, 2010. ACM.
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Zhu X., Phung C., Pareto L., Ehnebom S., Krekola M., Christerson M. and Helander M. (2014). An Industrial Case Study on using Language Workbench Technology for Realizing Model-Driven Engineering . In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD, ISBN 978-989-758-007-9, pages 17-29. DOI: 10.5220/0004688600170029


in Bibtex Style

@conference{modelsward14,
author={Xi Zhu and Congchi Phung and Lars Pareto and Staffan Ehnebom and Mikael Krekola and Magnus Christerson and Mats Helander},
title={An Industrial Case Study on using Language Workbench Technology for Realizing Model-Driven Engineering},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD,},
year={2014},
pages={17-29},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004688600170029},
isbn={978-989-758-007-9},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD,
TI - An Industrial Case Study on using Language Workbench Technology for Realizing Model-Driven Engineering
SN - 978-989-758-007-9
AU - Zhu X.
AU - Phung C.
AU - Pareto L.
AU - Ehnebom S.
AU - Krekola M.
AU - Christerson M.
AU - Helander M.
PY - 2014
SP - 17
EP - 29
DO - 10.5220/0004688600170029