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Modular Embedding of the Object Constraint Language into a Programming Language

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Formal Methods, Foundations and Applications (SBMF 2011)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 7021))

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Abstract

The Object Constraint Language (OCL) is a well-accepted ingredient in model-driven engineering and accompanying modeling languages like UML (Unified Modeling Language) or EMF (Eclipse Modeling Framework) which support object-oriented software development. Among various possibilities, OCL offers the formulation of state invariants and operation contracts in form of pre- and postconditions. With OCL, side effect free query operations can be implemented. However, for operations changing the system state an implementation cannot be given within OCL. In order to fill this gap, this paper proposes the language SOIL (Simple OCL-like Imperative Language). The expression sub-language of SOIL is identical to OCL. SOIL adds well-known, traditional imperative constructs. Thus by employing OCL and SOIL, it is possible to describe any operation in a declarative way and in an operational way on the modeling level without going into the details of a conventional programming language. In contrast to other similar approaches, the embedding of OCL into SOIL is done in a new, careful way so that elementary properties in OCL are preserved (for example, commutativity of logical conjunction). The paper discusses the major criteria of a conservative embedding of OCL into SOIL. SOIL has a sound formal semantics and is implemented in the UML and OCL tool USE (UML-based Specification Environment).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Department, Database Systems Group, University of Bremen, Germany

    Fabian Büttner & Martin Gogolla

Authors
  1. Fabian Büttner
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  2. Martin Gogolla
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador, são carlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Adenilso Simao

  2. School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Sydney, Australia

    Carroll Morgan

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Büttner, F., Gogolla, M. (2011). Modular Embedding of the Object Constraint Language into a Programming Language. In: Simao, A., Morgan, C. (eds) Formal Methods, Foundations and Applications. SBMF 2011. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7021. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25032-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25032-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-25031-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-25032-3

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