Extending a UML and OCL Tool for Meta-Modeling: Applications towards Model Quality Assessment

Abstract

For developing software in a model-driven style, meta- and multi-level modeling is currently gaining more and more attention. In this contribution, we propose an approach to extend a two-level modeling tool to three-level modeling by adding a meta-model at the topmost level. Standard OCL does not support reflective constraints, i.e., constraints concerning properties of the model like the depth of inheritance. By adding an auto-generated instance of the topmost level to the middle level, we can offer an option for writing reflective constraints and queries. We apply the extension to demonstrate the usefulness of meta-modeling for model querying and model quality assessment. A first proposal towards level-crossing constraints is also put forward.