Towards Product Lining Model-Driven Development Code Generators

TL;DR

This paper explores the development of product line architectures for code generators in model-driven development, proposing a component-based approach to improve reuse and manage complexity.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic approach for developing code generator product lines using variability-aware component systems, addressing a gap in reuse methodologies.

Findings

Analyzed common product line development approaches.

Mapped approaches to code generator infrastructure.

Proposed a component-based implementation framework.

Abstract

A code generator systematically transforms compact models to detailed code. Today, code generation is regarded as an integral part of model-driven development (MDD). Despite its relevance, the development of code generators is an inherently complex task and common methodologies and architectures are lacking. Additionally, reuse and extension of existing code generators only exist on individual parts. A systematic development and reuse based on a code generator product line is still in its infancy. Thus, the aim of this paper is to identify the mechanism necessary for a code generator product line by (a) analyzing the common product line development approach and (b) mapping those to a code generator specific infrastructure. As a first step towards realizing a code generator product line infrastructure, we present a component-based implementation approach based on ideas of variability-aware module systems and point out further research challenges.