phd proposal - a framework for evaluating the quality of languages in mde environments

A Framework for Evaluating the Ontological Quality of Languages in

MDE EnvironmentsFáber D. Giraldo

CAiSE'13 Doctoral ConsortiumValencia, June 2013 

Agenda

Introduction Research methodology Related work Results achieved Conclusions

Introduction

Context– MDE challenge: the management and integration oflanguages and models formulated to support multiple viewsduring the information systems development.

– In the real life several trends and particular interpretations ofmodel‐driven contribute to confusion and chaos

– See for example:¿Why did MDE miss the boat?Jean Bézivin, October 17, 2011

and analysis made by InfoQ in October 2011

Introduction

Problem– The adoption of the MDE approaches have guided thedevelopment of a large number of initiatives; although itemphasizes the use of models as primary artifacts of asoftware construction process, it causes a conceptualdivergence in the support of specific views and/or concernsbelonging to an IS.

– Most of the works about quality in models do not cover thequality of languages and models from a MDE viewpoint, i.e.,they do not explain how multiple proposals for managingmultiple views in a MDE scenario can co‐exist.

Introduction

Goal• The main goal of this research is to formulate a method for theevaluation of the quality of a set of languages jointly usedwithin an MDE project.

• The ontological quality evaluation framework proposed in thisresearch is conceived as a conceptual, methodology andtechnology tool for the evaluation of language proposals andmodels (as productions of languages), whose purpose is toassess one set of languages/models regarding itsincorporation and adoption capabilities in a MDEenvironment.

Introduction

Research Questions– (RQ1) What problems are evidenced in model‐drivenprojects related to the selection of languages?

– (RQ2) What is the set of concepts that are required tomodel when we are in a model‐driven project?

– (RQ3) When a set of modelling languages is selected to beused in combination in an MDE project, are there methodsfor evaluating the suitability such set of languages?

– (RQ4) Propose a method for the evaluation of theontological quality of a set of languages used jointly withina model‐driven project.

– (RQ5) What advantages/disadvantages are obtained bythe application of the proposed method?

Agenda

Introduction Research methodology Related work Results achieved Conclusions

Research Methodology

Agenda

Introduction Research methodology Related work Results achieved Conclusions

Related work

• Progressively, a growing interest about quality in models areevidence:

• How quality in models are defined?• Which are the dimensions of quality in models?• Representative works in quality of models are grouped into

– Quality frameworks– Usability of modelling languages– Guidelines of modelling– Accordance to ISO standards, such as 9126, 25000 or42010

– Integration by EA frameworks

Related work

Quality frameworks

6C Framework ‐ Parastoo Mohagheghi, SINTEF, Norway

Related work

Quality frameworks

SEQUAL Framework, John Krogstie, NTNU, Norway

Related work

Quality frameworks

The “PHYSICS” of Notations, Daniel L. Moody, Australia

Related work

Usability of modelling languages

Schalles, C. (2013). A Framework for Usability Evaluation of Modeling Languages (FUEML). Usability Evaluation of Modeling Languages, Springer..

Related work

Conformance with ISO standards

source: Burgués, Franch and Ribó

MOF‐compliantapproaches forstructuring qualitymodels in order toformalise software quality issues and deal with qualityinformationmodelling

Related works

EA Integration• Works led from Vallecillo and others• Integration by RM‐ODP (ISO/IEC 10746)• Generic model‐driven approach to the specification and realizationof correspondences between viewpoints.

Source: http://www.intelligrid.info/HTML/IECSA_VolumeIV.htm

Related works

Again, they do not explain how multiple proposals formanaging multiple views in a MDE scenario can co‐exist

Some of these proposals cover the language integration issue,but not the evaluation itself

Agenda

Introduction Research methodology Related work Results achieved Conclusions

Results achieved

Initial versión of conceptual framework for quality of languages Systematic review about quality in MDE (first steps)

Agenda

Introduction Research methodology Related work Results achieved Conclusions

Conclusion

A framework for evaluating the ontological quality oflanguages in MDE environments has been proposed

“Ontological” term suggest the use of one referencetaxonomy based on principles from IS development and MDE

A Framework for Evaluating the Ontological Quality of Languages in MDE Environments

Fáber D. Giraldo fdgiraldo@pros.upv.es

CAiSE'13 Doctoral ConsortiumValencia, June 2013