Improving domain representation with multi-paradigm modeling

  • Authors:
  • Andrea Leitner;Reinhold Weiß;Christian Kreiner;Wolfgang Ebner

  • Affiliations:
  • Graz University of Techn., AT;Graz University of Techn., AT;Graz University of Techn., AT;Virtual Vehicle Competence Center

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 16th International Software Product Line Conference - Volume 2
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

Domain modeling is a key task in Software Product Line (SPL) development. We identified two popular modeling paradigms: Feature-Oriented Domain Modeling (FODM) and Domain-Specific Modeling (DSM). The representation of the domain model is crucial in SPL engineering, since domain models have a long lifecycle and represent the externalized organizational domain knowledge. For complex and heterogeneous domains, such as embedded systems, different representation techniques can be useful to describe different aspects of the system. This paper describes a multi-paradigm modeling approach which enables the combined representation of Feature models and Domain-Specific Languages (DSL). The main idea is to reduce the complexity of the model and, thus, to improve its usability and maintainability. The technical realization of the multi-paradigm modeling approach uses 3 types of constraints to connect different modeling paradigms. The constraint checking mechanism reuses existing technology in order to not re-invent the wheel. A case study describes the applicability of the approach in a real-life automotive project for hybrid electric vehicle control software (HybConS) and shows the improvement of this approach compared to single-paradigm modeling.