USL: A Domain-Specific Language for Precise Specification of Use Cases and Its Transformations

Authors

  • Chu Thi Minh Hue VNU University of Engineering and Technology
  • Dang Duc Hanh VNU University of Engineering and Technology
  • Nguyen Ngoc Binh
  • Le Minh Duc

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31449/inf.v42i3.2253

Abstract

A use case model is often represented by a UML use case diagram and loosely structured textual descriptions. The use case model expressed in such a form contains ambiguous and imprecise parts. This prevents integrating it into model-driven approaches, where use case models are often taken as the source of transformations. In this paper, we introduce a domain-specific language named the Use case Specification Language (USL) to precisely specify use cases. We define the abstract syntax of USL using a metamodel together with OCL wellformedness rules and then provide a graphical concrete syntax forthe usability goal. We also define a precise semantics for USL by mapping USL models to Labelled Transition Systems (LTSs). It opens a possibility to transform USL models to software artifacts such as test cases and design models. We focus on a transformation from a USL model to a template-based use case description in order to illustrate our method. A language evaluation of USL is also performed in this paper.

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Published

2018-09-30

How to Cite

Hue, C. T. M., Hanh, D. D., Binh, N. N., & Duc, L. M. (2018). USL: A Domain-Specific Language for Precise Specification of Use Cases and Its Transformations. Informatica, 42(3). https://doi.org/10.31449/inf.v42i3.2253

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 3 (2018)

Section

SoICT 2017

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