Handling constraints in model versioning

Abstract

In model-driven software engineering (MDSE), models are firstclass entities of software development and undergo a complex evolution during their life-cycles. As a consequence, there is a growing need for techniques and tools to support model management activities such as versioning. Traditional versioning systems target text-based artefacts and are not suitable for graph-based structures such as software models. To cope with this problem, a few prototype model versioning systems have been developed. However, a uniform formalisation of model merging, conflict detection and conflict resolution in MDSE is still debated in the literature. In this paper, we propose an approach to constraint-aware model versioning; i.e., an approach that handles constraints in model merging, conflict detection and conflict resolution. The proposed approach is based on the Diagram Predicate Framework (DPF), which is founded on category theory and graph transformation.