Detecting Patterns of Poor Design Solutions Using Constraint Propagation

Abstract

We are proposing an approach for applying design patterns that consists of recognizing occurrences of the modeling problem solved by the design pattern (problem pattern) in input models, which are then transformed according to the solution proposed by the design pattern (solution pattern). In this paper, we look at the issue of identifying instances of problem patterns in input models, and marking the appropriate entities so that the appropriate transformations can be applied. Model marking within the context of MDA is a notoriously difficult problem, in part because of the structural complexity of the patterns that we look for, and in part because of the required design knowledge– and expertise. Our representation of design problem patterns makes it relatively easy to express the pattern matching problem as a constraint satisfaction problem. In this paper, we present our representation of design problem patterns, show how matching such patterns can be expressed as a constraint satisfaction problem, and present an implementation using ILOG JSolver, a commercial CSP solver.