Joanna Chimiak-Opoka

OCLLib, OCLUnit, OCLDoc: Pragmatic Extensions for the Object Constraint Language

The usage of the Unified Modeling Language in the industrial context becomes increasingly popular. There is an agreement in academia that the Object Constraint Language (OCL) is suitable for defining model constraints and queries. However, it has not yet been broadly adopted by practitioners because they find it difficult to define OCL expressions. Thus, simplification is desirable to increase the use of OCL in practice. We propose OCL libraries (OCLLib), which simplify the development of OCL expressions and enable a high reuse factor, are configurable, testable (OCLUnit) and documented (OCLDoc). In this paper we present the underlying concepts related to OCL library development we used in UML specific and domain specific projects conducted in academic and industrial contexts, respectively.

Towards systematic model assessment

In this paper a novel approach for the tool–based quality assurance of models is presented. The approach provides a meta model framework for domain specific and tool–independent quality assessment in heterogeneous model landscapes. In our framework we provide the concepts of queries, checks and views defined on meta model level and interpreted over the whole model landscape. Queries, checks and views are described in a predicative language based on the structures of the meta model.

OCL Tools Report based on the IDE4OCL Feature Model

Previously we have developed the idea of an Integrated Development Environment for OCL (IDE4OCL). Based on the OCL communitys feedback we have also designed and published an IDE4OCL feature model. Here we present a report on selected OCL tools developed by the authors and their teams. Each author gives an overview of their OCL tool, provides a top level architecture, and gives an evaluation of the tool features in a web framework. The framework can also be used by other potential OCL users and tool developers. For users it may serve as an aid to choose a suitable tool for their OCL use scenarios. For tool developers it provides a comparative view for further development of the OCL tools. Our plans are to maintain the collected data and extend this web framework by further OCL tools. Additionally, we would like to encourage sharing of OCL development resources.

A Feature Model for an IDE4OCL

An Integrated OCL Development Environment (IDE4OCL) can significantly improve the pragmatics and practice of OCL. Therefore we started a comprehensive requirement analysis with the long term vision of a multisite IDE4OCL project. In this paper we present a feature model for the IDE4OCL vision based on this analysis. In an earlier work we identified domain concepts, tool–level interactions with IDE4OCL, and use cases for OCL developers including a set predefined features. In the second step, we asked the OCL community members for their feedback on our proposal. Around 100 researchers, tool developers and practitioners who gained experience with OCL have voted in an online–survey. The results gave us a valuable insight in the needs of OCL usage both in usual and advanced OCL applications. One of the important results is a collection of features that have been proposed additionally to our predefined features. We analysed all the comments of the participants of the survey and consolidated them into an extended set of IDE4OCL features and eventually into a feature model.

Towards Adaptive Test Code Generation for Service Oriented Systems

With the increasing number of service oriented system implementations, new challenges concerning their development and testing are emerging.This paper presents an approach for model--driven system testing of service oriented systems. The approach offers a systematic testing methodology and it is based on tightly integrated system and test models with a formal metamodel. The test code generation itself is supported by automatic consistency and coverage checks and has a flexible adapter concept that allows different target technologies to be integrated.

Measuring UML models using metrics defined in OCL within the SQUAM framework

In software engineering practice, measurements may reduce development costs by improving processes and products at early stages. In model driven approaches, measurements can be conducted right from the start of a project. For UML models, a collection of metrics has been empirically validated, however, these need to be precisely defined in order to be useful. Definition of UML metrics in OCL offers a high degree of precision and portability, but due to shortcomings of this language this approach is not widespread. We propose the SQUAM framework, a tool-supported methodology to develop OCL specifications, which incorporates best practices in software development, such as libraries, testing and documentation. As a proof of concept we have developed 26 metrics for UML class diagrams in the academic context. This demonstrated the high effectiveness of our approach: quick learning, high satisfaction of developers, low imposed complexity and potential time reduction through reuse.

Understanding and Modeling Usage Decline in Social Networking Services

In this paper, we propose a new research model that describes why users leave social network services. Multiple models and theories were proposed in the past that describe why users join in on innovation, become active users of new IT solutions and adopt technology. But no concise model has been established that explicitly focuses on why users withdraw from social network services – or web based technology in general. The goal of this paper is to develop, based on established theories of information systems research, a research model that provides a predictive set of rules for analyzing user withdrawal from social network services.

Teaching OCL Standard Library: First Part of an OCL 2.x Course

Our aim is to provide a complete set of materials to teach OCL. They can be used in bachelor or master programs of computer science curricula and for training in an industrial context. In this paper we present the first part of the course related to the OCL Standard Library. This part provides model independent examples to teach OCL types and their operations. It enables users to gain a basic understanding of the OCL Standard Library, which can be used as a starting point to write model constraints (OCL specifications) or model queries. Additionally, to the content of the paper, we provide a set of OCL packages, exercise proposals and lecture slides.

An approach for synchronizing UML models and narrative text in literate modeling

A major challenge in adopting UML in industrial environments is the lack of accessibility and comprehensibility of some diagram types by non-technical stakeholders. Literate Modeling improves comprehension of these diagrams by adding narrative text, but lacks good tool support for synchronizing model and text. This paper presents an approach for keeping model and text synchronized by effectively combining state-of-the-art natural language processing technology with OCL model querying. Thereby, consistency of element names in the UML model with their counterparts in the text is achieved by using text annotations to provide the semantic link. At a structural level, we propose an algorithm that checks element relationships in the UML model using a set of validation constraints when particular sentence characteristics are detected. An analysis of the runtime complexity shows the feasibility of including the proposed solution in one of todays CASE tools.

Preface to Workshop The Pragmatics of OCL and Other Textual Specification Languages at MoDELS 2009

In recent years, model-driven methodologies, approaches and languages (like QVT) emphasized the role that OCL has to play in all kinds of model-based software development. Now, OCL is being used for quite different purposes (eg, model verification and validation, code generation, test–driven development, transformations) and application domains (domain–specific languages, web semantics). Successfully adapting OCL to all these different scenarios requires strong research on alternative notations/representations for OCL that simplify its ...