Developing Conceptual Modeling Tools Using a DSL

摘要

There are multiple ways one can pursue when developing conceptual modeling tools. The most common are the ones where modeling tool engineers implement by using multiple graphical editors and various programming languages to realize the requirements of a modeling method. In this case, implementing artifacts such as abstract and concrete syntax or algorithms is linked to a specific technological platform. This motivated us to develop a DSL for this area, which entailed designing, specifying and implementing it. In this paper we propose a domain-specific language (MM-DSL) based on a metamodeling approach, which gives us the ability to be technology independent. With MMDSL a specification for a conceptual modeling tool is programmed on an abstract level. The code can be compiled and executed on different metamodeling platforms. We tested the MM-DSL 1.0 using a prototype-based evaluation.