Generation of Advanced Modelling Environments by Means of Graph Transformation Techniques

In this paper we show our approach to the automatic generation of modelling environments for Visual Languages (VLs) supporting multiple views. The approach is based on the meta-modelling tool AToM3. Starting from a meta-model description of the VL and its views, a customized modelling environment is generated. Consistency between views is supported by the automatic generation of triple graph grammar rules that build a unique model “gluing” all the view models. Moreover, the generated environments allow taking basic static metrics of the models. Extreme values of the metrics may trigger heuristics for the refactoring of the models. These heuristics are formalized in the form of graph grammar rules. We show the application of these concepts in the area of hypermedia design by generating an environment for the Labyrinth VL.