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How to Specify a Graph Transformation Approach: A Meta Model for Fujaba

, and . Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science, 44 (4): 41--51 (July 2001)
DOI: 10.1016/S1571-0661(04)80942-3

Abstract

Application-oriented approaches to graph transformation provide structural features beyond vertices and edges, like composition in hierarchical graphs, inheritance in object-oriented graphs, multiplicity constraints, etc. Often, these features have a specific dynamic interpretation which requires complex embedding mechanisms and context conditions. For example, the deletion of a compound node usually implies the deletion of its components. In this paper, we propose the use of a meta graph grammar for the definition of such a complex graph transformation approach. A meta graph grammar is a typed graph grammar whose type graph provides a static description of the structure of graphs, rules, and transformations of the approach. This static meta model , which is comparable to the meta model in the UML specification, is extended by a specification of the rule application operator by means of graphical embedding rules , i.e., the productions of the meta graph grammar. These embedding rules allow a concise visual description of the admissible context embeddings of a rule and of the side effects of the rule application on the context. As a case-study, a meta graph grammar for selected features of the object-oriented graph transformation approach Fujaba is given.

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