UML-B: A Plug-in for the Event-B Tool Set

Abstract

UML-B is a graphical formal modelling notation that relies on Event-B for its underlying semantics and is closely integrated with the ‘Rodin’, Event-B verification tools. UML-B is similar to UML but has its own meta-model. UML-B provides tool support, including drawing tools and a translator to generate Event-B models. When a UML-B drawing is saved the translator automatically generates the corresponding Event-B model. The Event-B verification tools (syntax checker and prover) then run automatically providing an immediate display of problems which are indicated on the relevant UML-B diagram.The UML-B modelling environment consists of a UML-B project containing a UML-B model. Four interlinked diagram types (package, context, class and statemachine) are available. Package Diagrams are used to describe the ‘refines’ and ‘sees’ relationships between top level components (machines and contexts) of a UML-B project. UML-B mirrors the Event-B approach where static data (sets and constants) are modelled in a separate package called a ‘context’. The context diagram is similar to a class diagram but has only constant data represented by ClassTypes, Attributes and Associations. ClassTypes define ‘carrier’ sets or constant subsets of other ClassTypes.

This work was carried out under the EU projects, Rodin [IST-511599] and ICT project Deploy [IP-214158].