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![17Example (M2T)
modules
MSD,HCI
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MSD,RQE
E
mt506
supervisor
mt506
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jd5023 SmithJane 22
jd501 232 ThompsonJoe
D
age
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lastname
B
firstname
A
id1
Student Staff
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dj5123 JacksonDaniel HCI
mt506 MSD,RQE2 ThomasMatthew
D
teaches
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lastname
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firstname
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id1
Student Staff
Module
Module
Student Staff Module
Human Computer Interaction Spring4 HCI
D
RQE3 SpringRequirements Engineering
MSD2 AutumnModelling and System Design
C
term
B
title
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id1
Mark
Mark
Mark
<ul>
[%for (s in Student.allInstances){%]
<li> [%=s.firstname] [%=s.lastname]
[%}%]
</ul>](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/sems-paige-140709042239-phpapp02/75/Spreadsheets-are-models-too-Richard-Paige-at-Sems-2014-17-2048.jpg)
Spreadsheets are models too - Richard Paige at Sems 2014
- 1. 1 Spreadsheets are modelstoo Richard Paige, Dimitris Kolovos, Nicholas Matragkas Department of Computer Science University of York @richpaige, @kolovos, @nmatragkas
- 2. 2MDE • Aims toimprove the quality and efficiency of the software development process – Promotes models to first-class citizens – Reduces the need for human compilers – Models are purposeful descriptions that are processable by automated tools. • Not restricted to a particular modelling technology / model representation format Skip Ad>
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- 4. 4The MDE Community EMF XMLXSD Spreadsheets Visio RDBMS
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- 6. 6EMF Consolidation? • Benefitfrom modern modelling languages, DSLs, language workbenches, tools. • Benefit from use of generic tools for model management (e.g., for transformation, validation, migration). • Benefit from consolidated technology platforms. – Possibly better tool interoperability.
- 7. 7Spreadsheets for SE • Versatile and intuitive • Fill gaps in software development process – When no specialised tool exist for the job – When specialised tools are too expensive/ complicated – When information needs to be collected from non- programmers • Some problems are inherently tabular (e.g., certification/assurance arguments, control law modelling, data modelling, traceability). Skip Ad>
- 8. 8Spreadsheet = Model • Spreadsheets are models with interesting (valuable) properties. – Structure is largely read-only – Fixed implicit metamodel vs variable explicit metamodel (with EMF/Ecore) • Model editing vs metamodel then model editing. – Specialised rather than generic tools. • Excel/Google Spreadsheets interface vs. Eclipse interface…
- 9. 9 Treat Spreadsheets Like (EMF)Models? • What are the benefits? – Use generic tools (transformation, validation, merging, comparison) on spreadsheets. – Support richer heterogeneity in the MDE space (not just EMF!). – Better support for early stages of SE: bridge between early requirements and structured modelling. – Support for large legacy models, e.g., 200 sheet x 500 row sheets, never re-engineered.
- 10. 10 Treat Spreadsheets Like (EMF)Models (2) • What are the benefits? – No need to build DS(M)Ls for tabular problems. – Synergy with existing skills. – Exploit MDE tools for pattern detection, repair/ update, …. • Sometimes a spreadsheet is all that’s needed; EMF and DSLs are overkill.
- 11. 11How? • Injectors: – Generate models(in EMF) from spreadsheets. – May need to generate spreadsheets from models, i.e., some form of (partially) bidirectional transformations. – Specification blow-up?
- 12. 12How? • Model managementoperations for spreadsheets. – i.e., implement typical MDE operations on spreadsheets, using spreadsheet APIs, Google Spreadsheet Service etc. – Transformation, code generation, validation, etc. • Badly reinvented wheels? – Weigh against maintaining traditional spreadsheet interface/interaction model.
- 13. 13How? • Provide aspreadsheet driver for MDE languages/tools for – Model querying – Model-to-model transformation – Model validation – Model-to-text transformation – Model comparison – Model merging • ... so that spreadsheets can be used in any step of an MDE process
- 14. 14Basic Idea? • Spreadsheet-> Model • Worksheet -> Type • Column -> Property • Row -> Model element modules MSD,HCI F MSD,RQE E mt506 supervisor mt506 4 jd5023 SmithJane 22 jd501 232 ThompsonJoe D age C lastname B firstname A id1 Student Staff ED teaches C lastname B firstname A id1 Module Mark
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- 16. 16Example (Query) modules MSD,HCI F MSD,RQE E mt506 supervisor mt506 4 jd5023 SmithJane22 jd501 232 ThompsonJoe D age C lastname B firstname A id1 Student Staff E dj5123 JacksonDaniel HCI mt506 MSD,RQE2 ThomasMatthew D teaches C lastname B firstname A id1 Student Staff Module Module Student Staff Module Human Computer Interaction Spring4 HCI D RQE3 SpringRequirements Engineering MSD2 AutumnModelling and System Design C term B title A id1 Mark Mark Mark Student.allInstances-> select(s | s.age >= 18).println();
- 17. 17Example (M2T) modules MSD,HCI F MSD,RQE E mt506 supervisor mt506 4 jd5023 SmithJane22 jd501 232 ThompsonJoe D age C lastname B firstname A id1 Student Staff E dj5123 JacksonDaniel HCI mt506 MSD,RQE2 ThomasMatthew D teaches C lastname B firstname A id1 Student Staff Module Module Student Staff Module Human Computer Interaction Spring4 HCI D RQE3 SpringRequirements Engineering MSD2 AutumnModelling and System Design C term B title A id1 Mark Mark Mark <ul> [%for (s in Student.allInstances){%] <li> [%=s.firstname] [%=s.lastname] [%}%] </ul>
- 18. 18Example (Validation) context Mark{ constraint WithinRange { check: self.mark <= 100 and self.mark >= 0 message: “Mark ” + self.mark + “ must be between 0-100” } } Student Staff Module Human Computer Interaction Spring4 HCI D RQE3 SpringRequirements Engineering MSD2 AutumnModelling and System Design C term B title A id1 Mark E jd5023 74ICAR jd5012 62TPOP DC mark B module A student1 Student Staff Module Mark
- 19. 19How? • Develop anative spreadsheets driver for Epsilon’s pluggable type system (EMC) • Pros – No intermediate artefacts – No stale data – Direct updates to the spreadsheet – Can leverage native querying capabilities
- 20. 20Query Translation • Theimplementation of primitive query operations can be overloaded. • The Google Spreadsheets driver rewrites (EOL) queries at runtime, e.g., to: – https://spreadsheets.google.com/feeds/list/tb- <mark-worksheet-guid>/od6/private/full? sq=mark>70 • Search is performed on the server – Composite queries are supported
- 21. 21Conclusions • How dowe interface MDE approaches with spreadsheets? – Cannot/will not be re-engineered! – Need to use “real” models in combination with spreadsheets (and other “inferior” tech). • Currently working on extending Google Spreadsheets work with annotations. – Health care data project (York+TU/e+Lille). • Driver available at: https://code.google.com/p/epsilonlabs/