Feature-based survey of model transformation approaches

Krzysztof Czarnecki, Simon Helsen. Feature-based survey of model transformation approaches. IBM Systems Journal, 45(3):621-646, 2006. [doi]

Abstract

Model transformations are touted to play a key role in Model Driven Development. Although well-established standards for creating metamodels such as the Meta-Object Facility exist, there is currently no mature foundation for specifying transformations among models. We propose a framework for the classification of several existing and proposed model transformation approaches. The classification framework is given as a feature model that makes explicit the different design choices for model transformations. Based on our analysis of model transformation approaches, we propose a few major categories in which most approaches fit.