Claudia Pereira

MDA-Based Reverse Engineering of Object Oriented Code

The Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is an architectural framework for information integration and tool interoperation that could facilitate system modernization. Reverse engineering techniques are crucial to extract high level views of the subject system. This paper describes a reverse engineering approach that fits with MDA. We propose to integrate different techniques that come from compiler theory, metamodeling and formal specification. We describe a process that combines static and dynamic analysis for generating MDA models. We show how MOF (Meta Object Facility) and QVT (Query, View, Transformation) metamodels can be used to drive model recovery processes. Besides, we show how metamodels and transformations can be integrated with formal specifications in an interoperable way. The reverse engineering of class diagram and state diagram at PSM level from Java code is exemplified.

Formalizing MDA-Based Refactorings

The model driven architecture (MDA) is an initiative proposed by the Object Management Group (OMG) to model centric software development. It is based on the concepts of models, metamodels and automatic transformations. A crucial part of the evolution from abstract models to executable components or applications is accomplished by means of refactoring. MDA-based refactorings can be specified in the Object Constraint Language (OCL) as contracts between metamodels. We propose an alternative formalization based on the NEREUS language that can be viewed as an intermediate notation open to many formal languages. We show how to transform automatically OCL contracts into NEREUS. We propose a uniform treatment of refactoring at platform independent, platform specific and implementation specific abstraction levels.

Transforming UML static models into object-oriented code

The authors propose a reuse based rigorous method using UML and algebraic specifications. Our contribution is towards an embedding of the object oriented code generation within a rigorous process that facilitates reuse, evolution and maintenance of the software. In previous work we described the GSBL/sup OO/ language (L. Fevre and S. Clerici, 1999) to cope with the formalization of UML static models, and the SpReIm model for the definition of the structure of reusable components. Our current goal is to map design artifacts to object oriented code. We describe a rigorous process to forward engineer UML static models. The emphasis is given to the transformation of UML class diagrams into object oriented code. In particular, we describe how to transform OCL specifications into GSBL/sup 00/.

Migrating C/C++ Software to Mobile Platforms in the ADM Context

Software technology is constantly evolving and therefore the development of applications requires adapting software components and applications in order to be aligned to new paradigms such as Pervasive Computing, Cloud Computing and Internet of Things. In particular, many desktop software components need to be migrated to mobile technologies. This migration faces many challenges due to the proliferation of different mobile platforms. Developers usually make applications tailored for each type of device expending time and effort. As a result, new programming languages are emerging to integrate the native behaviors of the different platforms targeted in development projects. In this direction, the Haxe language allows writing mobile applications that target all major mobile platforms. Novel technical frameworks for information integration and tool interoperability such as Architecture-Driven Modernization (ADM) proposed by the Object Management Group (OMG) can help to manage a huge diversity of mobile technologies. The Architecture-Driven Modernization Task Force (ADMTF) was formed to create specifications and promote industry consensus on the modernization of existing applications. In this work, we propose a migration process from C/C++ software to different mobile platforms that integrates ADM standards with Haxe. We exemplify the different steps of the process with a simple case study, the migration of “the Set of Mandelbrot” C++ application. The proposal was validated in Eclipse Modeling Framework considering that some of its tools and run-time environments are aligned with ADM standards.

MODERNIZING SOFTWARE IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: FROM C/C++ APPLICATIONS TO MOBILE PLATFORMS

The evolution of software technology leads to continuous migration of software components and applications. Particularly, most software applications in applied science and engineering are for desktop computers and there is a need to migrate them to mobile technologies. This kind of migration faces many challenges due to the proliferation of different mobile platforms. New programming languages are thus emerging to integrate the native behaviors of the different platforms targeted in development projects. In this direction, the HAXE language allows writing mobile applications that target all major mobile platforms. Novel technical frameworks for information integration and tool interoperability such as the Model Driven Development (MDD) can help to manage a huge diversity of mobile technologies. A specific realization of MDD is the Model Driven Architecture (MDA) proposed by the Object Management Group (OMG). In this work, we propose a migration process from C/C++ software to different mobile platforms that integrates MDA standards with HAXE. C/C++ is one of the most commonly used programming language in science and engineering domains and numerous legacy software components written in C++ require to be modernized. On the one hand, the proposed process follows model-driven principles: all artifacts involved in the process can be viewed as models that conform a particular metamodel, the process itself can be viewed as a sequence of model-to-model transformations and all the extracted information is represented in a standard way through metamodels. On the other hand, HAXE easily adapts the native behaviors of the different platforms targeted in development projects enabling extremely efficient cross-platform development, ultimately saving time and resources. The proposal was validated in Eclipse Modeling Framework considering that some of its tools and run-time environments are aligned with MDA standards. The paper includes a simple case study, the migration of a C++ application, “the Set of Mandelbrot”, that allow us to exemplify the different steps of the process.

A Formal Approach to the Teaching of Abstract Data Types

In this paper we present a methodology for the teaching of programming applied to an elementary course of the System Engineering career at the Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. This methodology starts with the formal specifications of abstract data types and concludes with an implementation of an efficient algorithm in C++ language.