A Formal Framework for Metamodeling in the Context of MDE

Metamodeling is a central concept in Model Driven Engineering (MDE). An important consideration in metamodeling is that secure metamodels are a prerequisite for secure software, since errors in a metamodel lead to errors in its instances (models). Formal methods can help solve this problem by providing systematic and rigorous techniques for reducing ambiguities and inconsistencies in the specification of metamodels. The goal of this article is to present a unified formal framework for metamodeling in the context of MDE, essentially based on MOF, the metamodeling foundation of the OMG industry standards. It is based on the Nereus metamodeling language and includes transformers for translating both MOF metamodels to Nereus metamodels and Nereus metamodels to MOF metamodels, with some prospects for future industrial use of these results. The Nereus language can be seen as a concrete syntax for MOF, extended by additional properties expressed by axioms. Transformers are defined starting from systems of transformation rules that allow automation of processes. An original real-world case in the context of model-driven reverse engineering is described.