The document discusses Acceleo, a code generation tool from Eclipse. It provides an overview of Acceleo's history and capabilities. Key points include: (1) Acceleo allows generating code from models using templates based on the MTL standard; (2) A prototype demonstrates generating an Android app from a model using Acceleo templates; (3) Templates can be customized and extended to override default generation behavior. The tutorial aims to help beginners, experienced Acceleo users, and Android developers learn how to build code generators with Acceleo.

1. Acceleo
Code Generation
From the model
to the Android app
Stéphane Bégaudeau
stephane.begaudeau@obeo.fr
Gaël Blondelle
gael.blondelle@obeo.fr

2. Goals of the tutorial

3. Goals of the tutorial
Beginners See a simple concrete case study
Acceleo addicts Discover new killing features
Android experts Learn enough to build a full fledged generator

4. I 'm not
an Android
development expert

5. 1.
Acceleo:
A new code generator

6. A long history...
From Acceleo.org in 2006...
...to Eclipse.org in 2009
Version 3.0 is part
of the
Eclipse Helios rele
ase train

7. A long history...
Acceleo 3
Acceleo 2

8. A new code generation
language
Implementation
Metamodel and
of the Model To
templates based
Text OMG
technology
standard (MTL)
Tooling to help
Eclipse Modeling starting a new
/ M2T Project generator from
scratch
8

9. The Acceleo SDK
Acceleo
Development Tools
= +
Acceleo Runtime
(Compiler + Engine)
Eclipse independant: can be
run anywhere (plain old Jar,
9
OSGi, Eclipse...)

10. 2.
Prototype
based
approach

11. Let's have a look at the
Android prototype

12. Unlock the power of your models
Java UI Java DB
Different kinds of source
artifacts to be generated
XML Properties
12

13. Good Practice
On e kind of f ile to be
gen erated...
L file to b e created
...one MT 13

14. t, databas e adapter,
Manifes n p a g e,
properties file, editio
e dition pag e layout...

15. A little bit of syntax
Header
15

16. A little bit of syntax
B o dy
16

17. A little bit of syntax
Templates are better for generating text
and return a string
Queries can return any kind of objects
You can call Java services from a template or a query
The result of a query is stored in a cache. 17

18. The workflow file
ion
a nnotat
@main
The MTL file
calling the other
ones 18

19. Initialize the generation project
1. Create new
Acceleo project
2. Use the wizard
(update file paths)
3. Create a
workflow file 19

20. 3... 2... 1...
Anything
Launch Generated
that can
configuration Java Main
launch Java...
Same
Stand
VM as Standalone Standalone
alone
Eclipse
20

21. Ignition
1. Launch the
generator
(launch config as Eclipse plugin)
21

22. From a static generator...
… to a dyna mic one
3.

23. Quick replacement
Select a text section in the
template, then hit "Content
Assist" hotkeys
23

24. Hierarchy Tree
Select a text section in the
template, then right-click
"Source > As For/If"
24

25. Good Practice
" i s qu i c k b ut dirty...
"As For/If
...use template
ymorphism instead!!
pol 25

26. Generation patterns
Use the Generation
Patterns View
26

27. Extract as
S elect a text section in the
template, then right click
"Refactor > Extract as template"
template
27

28. Refactoring
Alt + Shift + R
28

29. Launch the generator
- open the Result view
- launch config as Eclipse plugin
- activate the Traceability
Have a look at the Result view

30. 4.
Make the Android App
run
30

31. Debug your templates
Thanks to Acceleo
debugger
31

32. Configure the
Android Development Kit
Set the path to the
SDK location
Create a new A
ndroid
Virtual Device
- AVD
32

33. Turn on the phone
33

34. 5.
A generic Android App
generator
34

35. Create a fresh new model

36. Generate new
Android Apps
36

37. 6.
A new App
in a few
clicks
37

38. Packaging and deploying
Generate an Eclipse Add an action on
UI plugin right-click on models
Synchronize your
Create a builder
code and your model
38

39. Packaging settings
Filename pattern
of the model
Target folder of
the generation
Warning Eclipse specific
39

40. Workout
1. Create new
Acceleo UI project
2. Use the wizard
nd
3. Launch a 2
Eclipse Runtime
and test 40

41. 7.
Override specific behavior
41

42. Overriding existing generators
Eclipse-o
nly
Static Dynamic
overriding overriding
42

43. Overriding behavior
Module A
Template
MT
es
rrid
Imports
Module C
ove
Extends
Module B
C invok es MT, B.MT
Template wi ll be executed
MT
43

44. Lost code
A common problem
with code generators...
if you change the
generated code...
your modifications are lost
during the next generation.
44

45. Protected area
Will not be erased
after re-generation
Dont forget the
comments marks...
© Copyright 2010
... and the ID
Obeo
45

46. @Generated
Acceleo also uses
JMerge
You can protect a
whole block with a
simple comment

47. 8.
© Copyright 2010
Obeo
The next step: Acceleo 3.1
47

48. © Copyright 2010
Obeo
48
Documentation

49. © Copyright 2010
Obeo
49
UI Improvements

50. Thank you for your attention!
Questions?