Model-based generation of natural language specifications

TL;DR

This paper explores generating natural language documentation from formal models using Attempto Controlled English to improve understanding and automate updates, aiding stakeholders unfamiliar with formal languages.

Contribution

It introduces a method for translating formal modeling artifacts into controlled natural language to facilitate comprehension and automate documentation updates.

Findings

Initial framework for converting models to Attempto Controlled English

Potential for improved stakeholder understanding of formal models

Foundation for automated documentation generation

Abstract

Application of formal models provides many benefits for the software and system development, however, the learning curve of formal languages could be a critical factor for an industrial project. Thus, a natural language specification that reflects all the aspects of the formal model might help to understand the model and be especially useful for the stakeholders who do not know the corresponding formal language. Moreover, an automated generation of the documentation from the model would replace manual updates of the documentation for the cases the model is modified. This paper presents an ongoing work on generating natural language specifications from formal models. Our goal is to generate documentation in English from the basic modelling artefacts, such as data types, state machines, and architectural components. To allow further formal analysis of the generated specification, we restrict English to its subset, Attempto Controlled English.