Title
Assessing and improving quality of QVTo model transformations
Abstract
We investigate quality improvement in QVT operational mappings (QVTo) model transformations, one of the languages defined in the OMG standard on model-to-model transformations. Two research questions are addressed. First, how can we assess quality of QVTo model transformations? Second, how can we develop higher-quality QVTo transformations? To address the first question, we utilize a bottom---up approach, starting with a broad exploratory study including QVTo expert interviews, a review of existing material, and introspection. We then formalize QVTo transformation quality into a QVTo quality model. The quality model is validated through a survey of a broader group of QVTo developers. We find that although many quality properties recognized as important for QVTo do have counterparts in general purpose languages, a number of them are specific to QVTo or model transformation languages. To address the second research question, we leverage the quality model to identify developer support tooling for QVTo. We then implemented and evaluated one of the tools, namely a code test coverage tool. In designing the tool, code coverage criteria for QVTo model transformations are also identified. The primary contributions of this paper are a QVTo quality model relevant to QVTo practitioners and an open-source code coverage tool already usable by QVTo transformation developers. Secondary contributions are a bottom---up approach to building a quality model, a validation approach leveraging developer perceptions to evaluate quality properties, code test coverage criteria for QVTo, and numerous directions for future research and tooling related to QVTo quality.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1007/s11219-015-9280-8
Software Quality Journal
Keywords
Field
DocType
Software quality,QVTo,Model transformations,Quality model,Developer tooling,Test coverage
Code coverage,USable,Model transformation,Software engineering,Systems engineering,Research question,General purpose,Computer science,Software quality,Exploratory research,Reliability engineering,Quality management
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
24
3
0963-9314
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
6
0.42
38
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Christine M. Gerpheide180.84
Ramon R. H. Schiffelers2144.77
Alexander Serebrenik31745150.69