Skip to main content
Log in

Bidirectional model transformations in QVT: semantic issues and open questions

  • Special Section Paper
  • Published:
Software & Systems Modeling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We consider the OMG’s queries, views and transformations standard as applied to the specification of bidirectional transformations between models. We discuss what is meant by bidirectional transformations, and the model-driven development scenarios in which they are needed. We analyse the fundamental requirements on tools which support such transformations, and discuss some semantic issues which arise. In particular, we show that any transformation language sufficient to the needs of model-driven development would have to be able to express non-bijective transformations. We argue that a considerable amount of basic research is needed before suitable tools will be fully realisable, and suggest directions for this future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bohannon, A., Vaughan, J.A., Pierce, B.C.: Relational lenses: a language for updateable views. In: Principles of Database Systems (PODS), Extended Version Available as University of Pennsylvania technical report MS-CIS-05-27 (2006)

  2. Ehrig, H., Ehrig, K., Ermel, C., Hermann, F., Taentzer, G.: Information preserving bidirectional model transformations. In: Proceedings of Fundamental Approaches to Software Engineering (FASE 2007), no. 4422 in LNCS, pp. 72–86. Springer, Heidelberg, March/April (2007)

  3. Foster J.N., Greenwald M.B., Moore J.T., Pierce B.C., Schmitt A. (2007) Combinators for bi-directional tree transformations: A linguistic approach to the view update problem. ACM Trans. Program. Lang. Syst. 29(3): 17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Greenyer, J.: A study of technologies for model transformation: reconciling TGGs with QVT. Master’s Thesis, University of Paderborn, Department of Computer Science, Paderborn (2006)

  5. Greenyer, J., Kindler, E.: Reconciling TGGs with QVT. In: Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, 10th International Conference, MoDELS 2007, Nashville, 30 September–5 October, 2007, Proceedings, vol. 4735 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp. 16–30. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

  6. Hu, Z., Mu, S.-C., Takeichi, M.: A programmable editor for developing structured documents based on bidirectional transformations. In: Proceedings of the 2004 ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Partial Evaluation and Semantics-based Program Manipulation (PEPM’04), pp. 178–189 (2004)

  7. Kawanaka, S., Hosoya, H.: biXid: a bidirectional transformation language for XML. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Functional Programming, ICFP’06, pp. 201–214 (2006)

  8. Königs, A., Schürr, A.: Tool integration with triple graph grammars—a survey. In: Heckel, R., (ed.) Proceedings of the SegraVis School on Foundations of Visual Modelling Techniques, vol. 148 of Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science, pp. 113–150. Elsevier, Amsterdam (2006)

  9. Königs, A.: Model transformation with triple graph grammars. In: Proceedings, Workshop on Model Transformations in Practice (2005)

  10. Meertens, L.: Designing constraint maintainers for user interaction. Unpublished manuscript, available from http://www.kestrel.edu/home/people/meertens/ June (1998)

  11. Mu, S.-C., Hu, Z., Takeichi, M.: An algebraic approach to bi-directional updating. In: Proceedings of Programming Languages and Systems: Second Asian Symposium, APLAS’04, pp. 2–20 (2004)

  12. Mu, S.-C., Hu, Z., Takeichi, M.: An injective language for reversible computation. In: Proceedings of Mathematics of Program Construction (MPC’04), pp. 289–313 (2004)

  13. OMG. MOF2.0 query/view/transformation (QVT) adopted specification. OMG document ptc/05-11-01, available from http://www.omg.org (2005)

  14. Stevens, P.: Bidirectional model transformations in QVT: Semantic issues and open questions. In: Proceedings of 10th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems, MODELS 2007, Nashville, 30 September–5 October, 2007, vol. 4735 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp. 1–15. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

  15. Stevens, P.: A landscape of bidirectional model transformations. In: Generative and Transformational Techniques in Software Engineering II, no. 5235 in Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp. 408–424. Springer, Heidelberg, July (2007)

  16. Taentzer, G., Ehrig, K., Guerra, E., de Lara, J., Lengyel, L., Levendovsky, T., Prange, U., Varro, D., Varro-Gyapay, S.: Model transformation by graph transformation: a comparative study. In: Workshop on Model Transformations in Practice, September (2005)

  17. Witkop, S.: MDA users’ requirements for QVT transformations. OMG document 05-02-04, available from http://www.omg.org (2005)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Perdita Stevens.

Additional information

Communicated by Prof. Gregor Engels.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stevens, P. Bidirectional model transformations in QVT: semantic issues and open questions. Softw Syst Model 9, 7–20 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-008-0109-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-008-0109-9

Keywords

Navigation