Xactium xDSLs Run Models Not Code Tony Clark [e-mail]

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XactiumxDSLs Run Models Not CodeTony
Clarktony.clark_at_xactium.com
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Overview

• Developments in Modelling Technology
• xDSLs A Modelling Methodology
• Xactium.
• xDSL Technology.
• Details of an Application The Xactium BMS
  Product.
• Conclusion

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Modelling Technology Development
Assembler
Structured Design
HLLs
Symbolic
OO
OOD
Formal
Executable
Agile
Scripting
DSL
UML
MDA
xDSL
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Generate Code From Models
System Model
Source Code
Compiler
bin
Platform
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Run the Model
System Model
Source Code
Compiler
xDSL Engine
Platform
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Code Generation

• Pros
• Stand-alone.
• Arbitrary extension.
• No-proprietary platform.
• Efficiency.
• Cons
• Complexity.
• Platform Dependence.
• Two Representations.
• No Domain Specific Semantics.
• Difficult to provide tool support.
• Difficult to dynamically update.

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xDSLs

• Pros
• Complete Model of application.
• Mix of graphical and textual syntax.
• Can be used for simulation, analysis, real app or
  code gen.
• High fidelity.
• Single representation.
• Dynamic updates.
• Reduced time and increased agility.
• Technology agnostic.
• Cons
• Careful about proprietary engines.
• Careful about efficiency.
• Careful about expertise.
• More effort up front.

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Xactium

• Provide model-based solutions.
• Eclipse based applications.
• Started in 2003.
• Developed an xDSL engine XMF.
• New product for 2007 Business Motivation
  Solution (BMS)
• Require model based technology to be agile and
  flexible.

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Xactium -Applications

• Applications
• Aerospace Integrated Modular Avionics
  configuration checking.
• Testing run the test case models against
  application.
• Application Simulations e.g. satellite
  payload.
• Business Management Information match goals and
  information system to progress.
• Service Oriented Architecture executable design
  of component interfaces.
• Interactive Applications agile system
  development through incremental process
  definition.
• Transformation XMI transformation against a
  proprietary API.

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An xDSL Example

• Xactium-BMS answers questions WHAT and WHY in
  business planning.
• Applications include
• Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Verification of Standards.
• Business Plan Analysis.
• Impact Analysis.
• Planning and Monitoring Business Change.
• BMS based on emerging BMM OMG standard that
  includes many business concepts.
• BMS-Solutions rely on technology for flexible and
  complex analysis of the concepts.

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BMS Concepts Goals
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BMS Concepts Sub-Goals
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BMS Concepts Tactics
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BMS Concepts Units
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BMS Solution Rules

• A business goal g is OK when
• It has at least one supporting tactic t and
• The tactic is established by an organization
  unit.
• A business goal g is OK when all its child goals
  are OK.
• An organization unit uses a single unit of
  resource for each tactic it establishes.
• An organization unit cannot use more resource
  than it owns.

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Demo
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BMS as an xDSL Application

• BMS has DSL syntax the diagrams.
• Code generation not appropriate want to
  interact with the models.
• Interaction and analysis involves an engine that
  processes BMM data.
• Example is just one of many different ways of
  analysing BMM information.
• Require technology that supports flexible dynamic
  processing of BMM models.

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xDSL Technology

• xDSL can be implemented in any technology. Some
  are better than others. Xactium uses the
  following components
• An xDSL architecture consisting of
• Eclipse as a tool platform for standards and
  inter-operability.
• EMF as a basic data format and to generate data
  editors.
• GMF as a means of generating GEF-based diagram
  editors.
• XMF as an xDSL engine.

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Technology
Graphical xDSL Functionality
Output
Graphical Editor (GMF)
Textual xDSL Information
xDSL
Model Data Model Editors (EMF)
Repository
Model Execution Engine (XMF)
Eclipse
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EMF/GMF/XMF Connectivity
xDSL Def
EMF Model
GMF Model
Menus Plugin
Menu Handlers
XMF
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BMS Tool with xDSL
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BMM Model
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BMS Results Model
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XMF Features

• Meta-programming engine.
• Object-oriented.
• Extensive high-level programming features.
• Rich model processing facilities.
• Language extension facilities.
• Open architecture.
• Seamless Java integration.
• Dynamic.
• Written in itself.
• Can be embedded

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BMM Class Definitions in XMF

• context Root
• _at_Class Goal metaclass JavaClass extends
  BMM_Element
• EMF_Descriptor("BMM.impl.GoalImpl")
• _at_Operation pprintString(model)
• "Goal " self.getName()
• " is supported by "
• self.getSupported_by().asSeq()
• -gtcollect(t t.getName())
• -gtseparateWith(", ")
• end
• _at_Operation toString()
• "Goal(" self.getName() ")"
• end
• end

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Language Fragments

• Selection from a collection
• _at_Select xT from Collection when Guard do
• Body
• else
• Alternative
• end
• Produce a result
• _at_Result (Goal,Tactic,Unit)
• Body
• end

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Language Fragments

• Check each element in a collection
• _at_ForAll x in Collection do
• Body
• end
• Use a unit of resource
• _at_Use(unit)end
• Guarded expressions
• _at_Unless Condition do
• Body
• end

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xDSL Engine

• _at_Operation ok(goal,resources,results,succ,fail)
• _at_Select tacticTactic from goal.getSupported_by(
  ) do
• _at_Select unitOrganization_Unit from
  self.getElements()
• when unit.establishes(tactic) and
• resources.lookup(unit.getName()) gt 0
• do _at_Result(goal,tactic,unit)
• _at_Use(unit) end
• end
• end
• else
• _at_Unless goal.getComposed_of().isEmpty() do
• _at_ForAll child in goal.getComposed_of() do
• self.ok(child.getName(),resources,result
  s,succ,fail)
• end
• end
• end
• end
• end

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xDSL Language Engineering

• OK manages a table of resources.
• Use, increments a usage count for a resource.
• _at_Use(Unit)
• Body
• end
• is shorthand for...
• let name Unit.getName() then
• usage resources.lookup(name) then
• resources resources.bind(name,usage 1)
• in Body
• end

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Syntax Class

• Syntax classes extend the XMF engine
• _at_Class Use extends Sugar
• _at_Attribute unit Performable end
• _at_Attribute body Performable end
• _at_Constructor(unit,body) ! end
• end

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Grammars

• Define a grammar for the syntax class
• context Use
• _at_Grammar extends OCL.grammar
• Use '(' u Exp ')' b Exp 'end'
• Use(u,b)
• .
• end

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Desugar the Syntax

• Translate Use to the basic language
• context Use
• _at_Operation desugar()
• let name ltunitgt.getName() then
• usage resources.lookup(name) then
• resources resources.bind(name,usage
  - 1)
• in ltbodygt
• end
• end

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Review

• xDSLs is an approach to system development.
• xDSLs provide advantages over code gen.
• xDSLs can be built using any technology, but
• some technologies make it easier than others
• XMF has been designed to support xDSLs
• Integrated with EMF/GMF
• Xactium planning XMF Open Source edition in 2007.
• BMS is an xDSL application based on XMF available
  in 2007.