Comparing graphical DSL editors AToM 3 vs GMF & MetaEdit+ Nick - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Comparing graphical DSL editors AToM 3 vs GMF & MetaEdit+ Nick - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nov 18, 2022 238 likes •672 views

Comparing graphical DSL editors AToM 3 vs GMF & MetaEdit+ Nick Baetens Outline Introduction MetaEdit+ Specifications Workflow GMF Specifications Workflow Comparison 2 Introduction Commercial Eclipse

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SLIDE 1

Comparing graphical DSL editors

AToM3 vs GMF & MetaEdit+ Nick Baetens

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SLIDE 2

2

Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • GMF
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • Comparison
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SLIDE 3

3

Introduction

  • Commercial
  • Written in Smalltalk
  • Standalone
  • Eclipse plug-in
  • Depends on &

combines other plug-ins

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4

Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications <=
  • Workflow
  • GMF
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • Comparison
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5

MetaEdit+

  • Graph, Object, Port, Property, Relationship

and Role

  • Graph: Top-level structure of meta-model
  • Binding of objects, relationships, roles and

ports within graph = actual semantics

  • Tools for each base type
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6

MetaEdit+

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7

MetaEdit+

  • Information in instance models created with

the older version of the meta-model is not lost when the new version is deployed

  • Conservative approach
  • If concept is removed
  • Creation of new instances impossible
  • Existing instances are not removed from models
  • Generators will still produce working code from
  • ld instances.
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8

Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications
  • Workflow <=
  • GMF
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • Comparison
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9

MetaEdit+ Workbench

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10

MetaEdit+ Workbench

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11

MetaEdit+ Workbench

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MetaEdit+ Workbench

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13

MetaEdit+ Workbench

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14

MetaEdit+ Workbench

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MetaEdit+ Modeler

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MetaEdit+ Modeler

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MetaEdit+ Workbench

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18

Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • GMF
  • Specifications <=
  • Workflow
  • Comparison
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GMF Specifications

  • Based on Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) &

Graphical Editing Framework (GEF)

  • EMF
  • Core: Ecore => XML Metadata Interchange
  • Edit: Adapter classes to view in JFace viewers
  • Codegen: Ecore to Java
  • GEF
  • Rich graphical editors out of domain models
  • No restrictions on underlying model
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GMF Specifications

  • GMF = bridge between EMF & GEF
  • No more model independency of GEF:
  • GMF only accepts EMF models
  • 2 parts: extensions of EMF & GEF
  • Runtime environment
  • Generation framework
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21

GMF Specifications

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22

Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • GMF
  • Specifications
  • Workflow <=
  • Comparison
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23

GMF Workflow

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24

GMF Workflow

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25

GMF Workflow

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GMF Workflow

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GMF Workflow

  • Constraints:
  • Object Constraint Language
  • Language to define constraints on meta-models
  • Use in mapping
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Outline

  • Introduction
  • MetaEdit+
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • GMF
  • Specifications
  • Workflow
  • Comparison <=
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Comparison

Feature Atom3 MetaEdit+ GMF Multi-user Multi-view Update Cycle Live Updating GraphGrammar Build Models Rules Simulation Code gen Symbol Editor User-friendly

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Multi-View

  • Different way’s to look at the same (meta-)

model

  • MetaEdit+
  • Yes: diagram, matrix and text
  • GMF
  • No: only tree representation
  • Atom3
  • Possible
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UpdateCycle

  • Time to update the model when meta-model is

changed

  • Consistency Model
  • MetaEdit+ < Atom3 < GMF
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LiveUpdating

  • Meta-model changes are propagated to model

without restarting the tool / reopening the model

  • Atom3
  • Need to reopen the model
  • MetaEdit+
  • Yes
  • GMF
  • Regenerate entire plug-in
  • Sometimes model is corrupted
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33

GraphGrammar

  • Is it possible to define a graph grammar?
  • Atom3
  • Yes
  • MetaEdit+
  • ??
  • GMF
  • Yes, but some development should be done.
  • Associate a builder with the project
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34

GMF

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GMF

  • You will need:
  • Create new kind of projects: ProjectNature
  • Create a new builder to build the diagram
  • Like in Java, the diagram will be updated

everytime you save.

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Build models

  • Can we use the same tool to build models and

meta-models?

  • Atom3 / MetaEdit+
  • Yes
  • GMF
  • Build meta-models in Eclipse + GMF
  • Generate new plug-in
  • Build models in Eclipse + Plug-in
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Simulation

  • MetaEdit+ and Atom3
  • Yes, program through API
  • Changes are reflected live in the model
  • Atom3
  • Offers debug window
  • GMF
  • Possible, needs some coding
  • Models can not be accessed directly
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38

Transformation Rules

  • Atom3
  • Yes, even visual
  • MetaEdit+ & GMF
  • Possible, but needs coding
  • Through API, develop class for each rule
  • Not visual
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User Friendly

  • Subjective
  • MetaEdit+
  • Different tools are sometimes confusing
  • Information is spread
  • GMF
  • Many wizards are provided
  • Not well documented
  • Atom3
  • Many control combinations
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Comparison

Feature Atom3 MetaEdit+ GMF Multi-user Multi-view Update Cycle 2 1 3 Live Updating GraphGrammar Build Models Rules Simulation Code gen Symbol Editor User-friendly 6,5/11 4/11 8,5/11

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Conclusion

  • Industrial Environments:
  • Stability
  • Features need to work out of the box
  • MetaEdit+
  • Research Environments:
  • Preferably no licenses
  • Make choice based on goals and habits