Meta-environment and executable meta-language using smalltalk: an experience report

• Published in: Software and systems modeling Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 5 - 19
• Main Authors: Ducasse, Stéphane, Girba, Tudor, Kuhn, Adrian, Renggli, Lukas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.02.2009; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Compilers; Computer Science; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Interpreters; IT in Business; Programming Languages; Programming Techniques; Software Engineering; Software Engineering/Programming and Operating Systems; Special Section Paper; Reflective language; Smalltalk; Executable modeling language; Meta behavior description; stefPub kzMeta
• ISSN: 1619-1366; 1619-1374
• DOI: 10.1007/s10270-008-0081-4

Object-oriented modelling languages such as EMOF are often used to specify domain specific meta-models. However, these modelling languages lack the ability to describe behavior or operational semantics. Several approaches have used a subset of Java mixed with OCL as executable meta-languages. In this experience report we show how we use Smalltalk as an executable meta-language in the context of the M oose reengineering environment. We present how we implemented EMOF and its behavioral aspects. Over the last decade we validated this approach through incrementally building a meta-described reengineering environment. Such an approach bridges the gap between a code-oriented view and a meta-model driven one. It avoids the creation of yet another language and reuses the infrastructure and run-time of the underlying implementation language. It offers an uniform way of letting developers focus on their tasks while at the same time allowing them to meta-describe their domain model. The advantage of our approach is that developers use the same tools and environment they use for their regular tasks. Still the approach is not Smalltalk specific but can be applied to language offering an introspective API such as Ruby, Python, CLOS, Java and C#.