Home » Modeling » UML2 » Best way to create an uml-approximated metamodel
| Best way to create an uml-approximated metamodel [message #478567] |
Tue, 30 June 2009 12:54  |
 Timothy Marc
Messages: 547
Registered: July 2009 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Hey you,
after all my questions concerning the uml metamodel etc., you can
imagine, that i have to build a metamodel, that is partially very close
to the UML::Classes package. We have a controverse discussion, about
what is the best way to do this. We will have a lot of transformations
from the UML to our metamodel, in particular structural aspects like
Classes, etc. Here are the different opinions:
1. Reuse the kernel package by applying the merge mechanism to all the
packages and subpackages in the UML::Class package. This will provide
exactly the same strcuture as it is in the UML, and with EMF wonderful
capability to evaluate ocl expression, most of the additional operations
had not to be reimplemented.
-> imho, this is right, but all the derived properties had to be
implemented again. So, this is an error-prone process.
2. Extending the uml metamodel is a good alternative, since we are in
the uml scope and therefore, we need no explicit transformation from uml
to our metamodel. An element X extend UML::Class is of course an
UML::Class, so that we can change the models between the UML and our scope.
-> imho, this is the worth idea, because with this, we need the full UML
model, which is not necessary for us. Beyond that fact, it is not easy
to particpate to all these associations etc., so a detailled knowledge
of the UML is needed, that is not given by everyone.
3. Reimplement the concepts we needed from cratch with respect to the
UML metamodel. This provides a very flexible, yet independent mechanism,
to evluate our metamodel, uncoupled from the UML.
-> i prefer this one. I know, reimplementing the classes kernel is not
very comfortable, but the best solution for our situation.
To sum-up all this stuff: i think, point 1 or 3 are the most practical
ones, since they allows us to restrict or change some aspects of the
uml. In opposite, this is not compatibl with the UML, so everytime, we
need aspects from our metamodel, we had to convert the UML model into an
instance of our model.
Is this mostly correct, and if so, are there other causes i can exhibit
in the upcoming discussion wiht my colleagues and my boss?
Thx
Timothy
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| Re: Best way to create an uml-approximated metamodel [message #478590 is a reply to message #478567] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 15:39  |
Kenn Hussey
Messages: 1620
Registered: July 2009 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Timothy,
Have you read the Wiki article on this subject (see
http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Custo mizing_UML2_Which_Technique_is_Right_For_You/article.html)?
You may find that it provides some useful information and/or decision
criteria that you had not considered... Ultimately, though, there's no
one "best" way to extend/re-use the UML metamodel; it all depends on
what you are trying to accomplish and how much risk you're willing to
entertain...
Kenn
Timothy Marc wrote:
> Hey you,
>
> after all my questions concerning the uml metamodel etc., you can
> imagine, that i have to build a metamodel, that is partially very close
> to the UML::Classes package. We have a controverse discussion, about
> what is the best way to do this. We will have a lot of transformations
> from the UML to our metamodel, in particular structural aspects like
> Classes, etc. Here are the different opinions:
>
> 1. Reuse the kernel package by applying the merge mechanism to all the
> packages and subpackages in the UML::Class package. This will provide
> exactly the same strcuture as it is in the UML, and with EMF wonderful
> capability to evaluate ocl expression, most of the additional operations
> had not to be reimplemented.
> -> imho, this is right, but all the derived properties had to be
> implemented again. So, this is an error-prone process.
>
> 2. Extending the uml metamodel is a good alternative, since we are in
> the uml scope and therefore, we need no explicit transformation from uml
> to our metamodel. An element X extend UML::Class is of course an
> UML::Class, so that we can change the models between the UML and our scope.
> -> imho, this is the worth idea, because with this, we need the full UML
> model, which is not necessary for us. Beyond that fact, it is not easy
> to particpate to all these associations etc., so a detailled knowledge
> of the UML is needed, that is not given by everyone.
>
> 3. Reimplement the concepts we needed from cratch with respect to the
> UML metamodel. This provides a very flexible, yet independent mechanism,
> to evluate our metamodel, uncoupled from the UML.
> -> i prefer this one. I know, reimplementing the classes kernel is not
> very comfortable, but the best solution for our situation.
>
> To sum-up all this stuff: i think, point 1 or 3 are the most practical
> ones, since they allows us to restrict or change some aspects of the
> uml. In opposite, this is not compatibl with the UML, so everytime, we
> need aspects from our metamodel, we had to convert the UML model into an
> instance of our model.
>
> Is this mostly correct, and if so, are there other causes i can exhibit
> in the upcoming discussion wiht my colleagues and my boss?
>
> Thx
> Timothy
|
|
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| Re: Best way to create an uml-approximated metamodel [message #627771 is a reply to message #478567] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 15:39 |
Kenn Hussey
Messages: 1620
Registered: July 2009 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Timothy,
Have you read the Wiki article on this subject (see
http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Custo mizing_UML2_Which_Technique_is_Right_For_You/article.html)?
You may find that it provides some useful information and/or decision
criteria that you had not considered... Ultimately, though, there's no
one "best" way to extend/re-use the UML metamodel; it all depends on
what you are trying to accomplish and how much risk you're willing to
entertain...
Kenn
Timothy Marc wrote:
> Hey you,
>
> after all my questions concerning the uml metamodel etc., you can
> imagine, that i have to build a metamodel, that is partially very close
> to the UML::Classes package. We have a controverse discussion, about
> what is the best way to do this. We will have a lot of transformations
> from the UML to our metamodel, in particular structural aspects like
> Classes, etc. Here are the different opinions:
>
> 1. Reuse the kernel package by applying the merge mechanism to all the
> packages and subpackages in the UML::Class package. This will provide
> exactly the same strcuture as it is in the UML, and with EMF wonderful
> capability to evaluate ocl expression, most of the additional operations
> had not to be reimplemented.
> -> imho, this is right, but all the derived properties had to be
> implemented again. So, this is an error-prone process.
>
> 2. Extending the uml metamodel is a good alternative, since we are in
> the uml scope and therefore, we need no explicit transformation from uml
> to our metamodel. An element X extend UML::Class is of course an
> UML::Class, so that we can change the models between the UML and our scope.
> -> imho, this is the worth idea, because with this, we need the full UML
> model, which is not necessary for us. Beyond that fact, it is not easy
> to particpate to all these associations etc., so a detailled knowledge
> of the UML is needed, that is not given by everyone.
>
> 3. Reimplement the concepts we needed from cratch with respect to the
> UML metamodel. This provides a very flexible, yet independent mechanism,
> to evluate our metamodel, uncoupled from the UML.
> -> i prefer this one. I know, reimplementing the classes kernel is not
> very comfortable, but the best solution for our situation.
>
> To sum-up all this stuff: i think, point 1 or 3 are the most practical
> ones, since they allows us to restrict or change some aspects of the
> uml. In opposite, this is not compatibl with the UML, so everytime, we
> need aspects from our metamodel, we had to convert the UML model into an
> instance of our model.
>
> Is this mostly correct, and if so, are there other causes i can exhibit
> in the upcoming discussion wiht my colleagues and my boss?
>
> Thx
> Timothy
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