Bart Meyers, Joachim Denil, István Dávid, Hans Vangheluwe

Domain-specific modelling languages (DSML) enable domain users

to model systems in their problem domain, using concepts and

notations they are familiar with. The process of domain-specific

modelling (DSM) consists of two stages: a language engineering

stage where a DSML is created, and a system modelling stage where

the DSML is used. Because techniques such as metamodelling and

model transformation allow for a efficient creation of DSMLs, and

using DSMLs significantly increases productivity, DSM is very

suitable for early prototyping. Many systems that are modelled

using DSMLs are reactive, meaning that during their execution, they

respond to external input. Because of the complexity of input and

response behaviour of reactive systems, it is desirable to test models

as early as possible. However, while dedicated testing support for

specific DSMLs has been provided, no systematic support exists for

testing DSML models according to DSM principles.

In this paper, we introduce a technique to automatically generate

a domain-specific testing framework from an annotated DSML

definition. In our approach, the DSML definition consists of a metamodel,

a concrete syntax definition and operational semantics described

as a schedule of graph rewrite rules, thus covering a large

class of DSMLs. Currently, DSMLs with deterministic behaviour

are supported, but we provide an outlook to other (nondeterministic,

real-time or continuous-time) DSMLs. We illustrate the approach

with a DSML for describing an elevator controller. We evaluate

the approach and conclude that compared to the state-of-the-art,

our testing support is significantly less costly, and similar or better

(according to DSM principles) testing support is achieved. Additionally,

the generative nature of the approach makes testing support for

DSMLs less error-prone while catering the need for early testing.

https://doi.org/10.1145/2997364.2997367