SysML meta-model

Introduction

The OMG Systems Modeling Language (OMG SysML™) is a general-purpose graphical modeling language for specifying, analyzing, designing, and verifying complex systems. The OMG defines SysML as a UML profile. This definition as a profile makes it difficult to apply model transformations ("model to model" and "model to text") as it not formal enough.
This proposal aims at defining a SysML metamodel which will help in defining formal SysML models. It should be a "UML2-like" component of the MDT project.

This proposal is in the Proposal Phase (as defined in the Eclipse Development Process document) and is written to declare its intent and scope. This proposal is written to solicit additional participation and input from the Eclipse community. You are invited to comment on and/or join the component. Please send all feedback to the MDT newsgroup.

Background

In the scope of the Aerospace Valley program which aim is to define a Complex Systems development process, TOPCASED represents a toolkit used to define modelling and code generating means. The SysML editor is one of the key modeling editors (with UML, ECore, AADL and SAM) provided by the TOPCASED toolkit to model complex systems. In order to provide this editor, a SysML meta-model has been defined.

This meta-model is based on the OMG SysML specification 1.0 released in May 2006.

Scope

The objectives of the SysML meta-model component are to:

Provide a complete description of the SysML meta-model in order to define formal SyML models and formal transformations from those models.
Ease the development of editors while the SysML specification is being revised.
Include UML2 meta-model for all common elements as a resource. A SysML element which is extended from a UML2 element (package for example) will be defined as a specialization of the UML2 element.

The objective of this proposal is to donate the SysML meta-model to the Eclipse Community. The TOPCASED SysML editor will be based on the Eclipse SysML meta-model (just as the TOPCASED UML2 editor is based on the Eclipse UML2 meta-model).

Description

This SysML meta-model is based on an Ecore meta-model definition.

This meta-model provides :

all the UML2 elements (UML2 meta-model bound as a ressource),
all the definition of the SysML elements,
specific definition of a SysML package element.

Organization

Initial committers

The Initial committers are members of the Topcased project team dedicated to the SysML editor development. The team is comprised as follows:

Raphael FAUDOU (Atos Origin): project lead
Stephane PELLESCHI (Atos Origin): project manager
Thibault LANDRE (Atos Origin): developper

The Topcased SysML editor is hosted on the Topcased site as the SysML project.

Interested parties

Developer community

The SysML meta-model needs to follow the specification changes. As such, contributors can propose modifications but these will have to be validated by the component team.

User community

The SysML meta-model is currently being tested and validated by the Topcased users through the editor. Of course, everyone will be able to use it and can report bugs or propose new features in Bugzilla once the component has been created.

Tentative Plan

2006 : Initial release of the SysML meta-model
2007-05 : meta-model completed with a SysML specific package and a containment element (meta-model found with 1.0.0M4 release of the SysML editor).