Modelling SDL, Modelling Languages

• Main Authors: Michael Piefel, Markus Scheidgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics 2007-02-01
• Series: Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
• Subjects: OCL; UML; Metamodel; MOF; SDL; MDA
• Online Access: http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/CV$/sci/pdfs/P637430.pdf

Today's software systems are too complex to implement them and model them using only one language. As a result, modern software engineering uses different languages for different levels of abstraction and different system aspects. Thus to handle an increasing number of related or integrated languages is the most challenging task in the development of tools. We use object oriented metamodelling to describe languages. Object orientation allows us to derive abstract reusable concept definitions (concept classes) from existing languages. This language definition technique concentrates on semantic abstractions rather than syntactical peculiarities. We present a set of common concept classes that describe structure, behaviour, and data aspects of high-level modelling languages. Our models contain syntax modelling using the OMG MOF as well as static semantic constraints written in OMG OCL. We derive metamodels for subsets of SDL and UML from these common concepts, and we show for parts of these languages that they can be modelled and related to each other through the same abstract concepts.