Automating Feature Requests for User-Driven Model Evolution at Runtime
Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/Report › Conference contribution › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
As software projects progress, requirements can change and diverge between individual users. This happens in particular in consumer software. Subsequently, the maintenance of such software becomes a complex and resource-intensive task. However, system parts can be modified and individualized at runtime if domain-specific evolution and configuration tasks are transferred to the user. This reduces development efforts and contributes to sustainable and long-living software products called eternal software. In model-driven engineering, a target for this evolution is the domain's metamodel. The adaptive object model architecture style is a known approach, enabling variable metamodels at runtime. However, specifying transformations for evolving the metamodel can be challenging, particularly for end-users. Editor-based solutions are complex to develop and require multiple user interactions to achieve a desired change. We propose a new approach based on textual feature requests from community-driven software development to address this issue. We define a language for feature requests that target model evolution. We define this language on top of formal delta models. End-users can use the language to formulate model evolution on a high level. These requests are transformed into a sequence of low-level change operations, which are executed at runtime. A case study shows the approach's feasibility. We realize an issue tracker where users can evolve domain classes using textual requests at runtime. A user study evaluates usability.
Details
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Proceedings - 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems Companion, MODELS-C 2023 |
| Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
| Pages | 944-953 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (electronic) | 9798350324983 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Publication series
| Series | Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems Companion (MODELS-C) |
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Conference
| Title | 26th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems |
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| Abbreviated title | MODELS-C 2023 |
| Conference number | 26 |
| Duration | 1 - 6 October 2023 |
| Website | |
| Location | Västerås Kongress |
| City | Västerås |
| Country | Sweden |
External IDs
| ORCID | /0009-0003-6829-4260/work/167217369 |
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Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- evolving software, language engineering, model evolution, user-driven