Eclipse Modeling Framework Project (EMF)

The EMF project is a modeling framework and code generation facility for building tools and other applications based on a structured data model. From a model specification described in XMI, EMF provides tools and runtime support to produce a set of Java classes for the model, along with a set of adapter classes that enable viewing and command-based editing of the model, and a basic editor.

EMF builds include XML Schema Definition (XSD), now a component of the Model Development Tools (MDT) project, and an EMF-based implementation of Service Data Objects (SDO). XSD provides a model and API for manipulating components of an XML Schema, with access to the underlying DOM representation of the schema document.

Other subprojects, such as Model Query, Model Transaction, and Validation Framework, are available separately.

The next release of EMF is scheduled for the end of June 2010, along with the rest of the Helios projects.

Model Transaction

The transaction component provides the following capabilities.

Multi-threading - Supports a protocol for clients to read and write EMF models on multiple threads.
Model Integrity - Semantic integrity is ensured by automatic validation to detect invalid changes and semantic procedures to proactively maintain correctness of semantic dependencies.
Batched Events - Clients are notified of groups of related changes in batches, rather than as a stream of EMF notifications. In particular, this allows applications to analyze change sets in their entirety.
Undo/Redo - For a simplified programming model, the API automatically tracks changes applied to models without the need for client code to use EMF edit Commands. These changes are encapsulated in transactions/operations that can undo and redo themselves.
Editing Domain - Support cooperative editing of models by multiple editors/applications. EMF resources can be shared amongst different editing domains.
Eclipse Workspace - The API provides traceability between EMF resources and workspace resources. Multi-threaded access is coordinated via the Eclipse jobs API and its integration with the workspace.
Eclipse Operations - The API supports the Eclipse operation history as an undo stack for undo/redo of resource changes. The API provides a framework for undoable operations that automatically capture undo/redo information, which can be interleaved on the same history with dependent operations that do not modify the EMF model.

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EMF (Core)

EMF is a modeling framework and code generation facility for building tools and other applications based on a structured data model. From a model specification described in XMI, EMF provides tools and runtime support to produce a set of Java classes for the model, a set of adapter classes that enable viewing and command-based editing of the model, and a basic editor. Models can be specified using annotated Java, XML documents, or modeling tools like Rational Rose, then imported into EMF. Most important of all, EMF provides the foundation for interoperability with other EMF-based tools and applications. For more detailed information see the EMF Overviews and Project Plan.

CDO

The CDO (Connected Data Objects) Model Repository is a distributed shared model framework for EMF models and meta models. CDO is also a model runtime environment with a focus on orthogonal aspects like model scalability, transactionality, persistence, distribution, queries and more.

CDO has a 3-tier architecture supporting EMF-based client applications, featuring a central model repository server and leveraging different types of pluggable data storage back-ends like relational databases, object databases and file systems. The default client/server communication protocol is implemented with the Net4j Signalling Platform.

Compare

EMF Compare brings model comparison to the EMF framework, this tool provides generic support for any kind of metamodel in order to compare and merge models. The objectives of this component are to provide a stable and efficient generic implementation of model comparison and to provide an extensible framework for specific needs.

Model Query

The query component provides capabilities to specify and execute queries against EMF model elements and their contents.

Model Query 2

The Query2 component facilitates the process of search and retrieval of emf model elements in a structured format with an additional advantage that resource loading is minimized during execution.

Net4j

Net4j is an extensible client-server system based on the Eclipse Runtime and the Spring Framework.

SDO

Service Data Objects (SDO) is a framework that simplifies and unifies data application development in a service oriented architecture (SOA). It supports and integrates XML and incorporates J2EE patterns and best practices. EMF includes an EMF-based implementation of Service Data Objects.

Teneo

Teneo is a database persistency solution for EMF using Hibernate or EclipseLink. It supports automatic creation of EMF to Relational Mappings. EMF Objects can be stored and retrieved using advanced queries (HQL or EJB-QL).