Guido Wachsmuth. Modelling the Operational Semantics of Domain-Specific Modelling Languages. In Ralf Lämmel, Joost Visser, João Saraiva, editors, Generative and Transformational Techniques in Software Engineering II, International Summer School, GTTSE 2007. Volume 5235 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 506-520, Springer, Braga, Portugal, 2007. [doi]
Domain-specific modelling languages provide modelling means tailored to a particular domain. In Model-driven Engineering, it is common practice to specify such languages by modelling means as well. In this paper, we investigate structural operational semantics for domain-specific modelling languages. Thereby, we rely completely on standard modelling means as provided by the Object Management Group. As examples, we specify structural operational semantics for Petri nets as well as for a stream-oriented language from the domain of earthquake detection. The approach is useful to provide prototypical tool support for domain-specific modelling languages. It can be instrumented to specify interpreters and debuggers in a generic way.