Theory and Practice of Model Transformations

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Models have become essential for dealing with the numerous aspects involved in developing and maintaining complex IT systems. Models allow capturing of the relevant aspects of a system from a given perspective, and at a precise level of abstraction. In addition to models, the transformations between them are other key elements in model-driven engineering. Model transformations allow the de?nition and implementation of the operations on models, and also provide achainthatenablestheautomateddevelopmentofasystemfromitscorrespo- ing models. Furthermore, model transformations may be realized using models, and are, therefore, an integral part of any model-driven approach. There are already several proposals for model transformation speci?cation, implementation and execution, which are beginning to be used by modeling practitioners. However, model transformations need specialized support in s- eral aspects in order to realize their full potential. The problem goes beyond having speci?c languages to represent model transformations; we also need to understandtheirfoundations,suchasthekeyconceptsandoperatorssupporting those languages, their semantics, and their structuring mechanisms and pr- erties (e. g., modularity, composability and parametrization). In addition, model transformations can be stored in repositories as reusable assets, where they can be managed, discovered and reused. There is also a need to chain and combine model transformations in order to produce new and more powerful transfor- tions, and to be able to implement new operations on models. Finally, model transformations need methodology support, i. e., they need to be integrated into software development methodologies supported by appropriate tools and en- ronments. These issues and concerns de?nethe focus of these proceedings.

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