Rigorous EBNF-based Definition for a Graphic Modeling Language

Today, the syntax of visual specification languages such as UML is typically defined using meta-modelling techniques. However, this kind of syntax definition has drawbacks. In particular, graphic meta-models are not powerful enough, so they must be augmented by a textual constraint language. As an alternative, we present in this paper, a text-based technique for the syntax definition of a graphic specification language. We exploit the fact that in a graphic specification language, most syntactic features are independent of the layout of the graph. So we map the graphic elements to textual ones and define the context-free syntax of this textual language in EBNF. Using our mapping, this grammar also defines the syntax of the graphic language. Simple spatial and context-sensitive constraints are then added by attributing the context-free grammar. Finally, for handling complex structural and dynamic information in the syntax, we give a set of operational rules that work on the attributed ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: APSEC
• Authors: Yong Xia, Martin Glinz
• Keywords: APSEC 2003, Graphic Specification Language, Software Engineering, Specification Language, Syntax Definition