Implementing a Model-based Engineering Tool as Web Application

TL;DR

This paper discusses converting a desktop model-based engineering tool into a web application, creating a cloud-based environment with a modeling language independent kernel and a prototype of AutoFOCUS 3, along with implementation insights.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach for transferring desktop engineering tools to web applications using Eclipse technologies, including a modeling kernel and prototype implementation.

Findings

Development of a modeling language independent web kernel

Prototype implementation of AutoFOCUS 3 as a web app

Insights and best practices for web-based tool migration

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of transferring a desktop-based model-based engineering tool to a web application. The study has been conducted in the WEBMODEL project where the well-established technology stack around the Eclipse platform and the Eclipse Modeling Framework was lifted into a cloud-based environment. As results, a modeling language independent tooling kernel for web-based modeling tools and a minimal prototypical web-based implementation of the AutoFOCUS 3 model-based engineering tool are presented. Furthermore, the report documents experiences and implementation advises gained during the implementation.