The document discusses different approaches for developing open source modeling tools, including developing tools independently, through collaborative projects, and through industrial partnerships. It outlines pros and cons of each approach and provides examples of tools developed using each approach. Key lessons learned include choosing an open source license, integrating with an active community, following a structured development process, relying on a reference framework, and getting support from one's host institution. The document advocates that there is no single best approach and that the approach depends on the specific context.

1. On Developing Open Source MDE
Tools: Our Eclipse Stories and
Lessons Learned
Hugo Bruneliere, Jordi Cabot
OSS4MDE @ MODELS 2014
Sunday 28th of September 2014
Valencia, Spain
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2. Introduction: the AtlanMod Team
 A joint team between
Inria, Mines Nantes &
LINA
 Long-time expertise on
Model Driven
Engineering (MDE)
 “Modeling Technologies
for Better Software
Production, Evolution,
and Operation”
Application
Driven Research
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3. Introduction: How to transfer lab
innovation to the industry?
 Many open source solutions
 Actual industrial tools but also…
– Innovation from research papers (PoCs)
– Results from project deliverables, etc.
 Really true in the context of MDE!!!
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4. Introduction: How to transfer lab
innovation to the industry?
Benefits of lab innovation
vs. actual transfer…
 Industry answer? Insufficient maturity!
Stability Community Support
 Is there a to deal with transfer?
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5. The Free Way:
Develop tools on your own!
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6. The Free Way:
Develop tools on your own!
EMF2CSP
–
automated
verification of
EMF models
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7. The Free Way:
Develop tools on your own!
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EMF-Rest
–
RESTful API
generation
from EMF
models

8. The Free Way:
Develop tools on your own!
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Collaboro
–
Collaborative
DSL
development

9. The Free Way:
Develop tools on your own!
Pros Cons
Freedom in innovation
(explore problems,
conceptual approaches)
Limited resources (no
dedicated funding)!
Freedom in decision
(architecture, technical
solutions)
(Partial) Commitment
of involved people
Isolation: reduced
visibility and relevance
of the work
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10. The Funded Way:
Develop tools in collaborative projects!
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11. The Funded Way:
Develop tools in collaborative projects!
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Neo4EMF
–
enhanced
EMF model
loading,
querying and
storing
capabilities

12. The Funded Way:
Develop tools in collaborative projects!
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EMF Views
–
building
“views” linking
large and/or
heterogeneous
EMF models

13. The Funded Way:
Develop tools in collaborative projects!
Pros Cons
Security of allocated
resources and time
(budgeted activities)
Constrained
environment (e.g.
requirements,
challenges, techniques)
Collaborative nature of
the work (notably with
industrials)
Higher expectations in
terms of results
(research is uncertain!)
Real needs targeted
(e.g. problems,
applications)
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14. The Sustainable Way:
Develop tools in industrialization triangle!
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15. The Sustainable Way:
Develop tools in industrialization triangle!
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ATL
–
m2m
transformation
language and
related
development
tool

16. The Sustainable Way:
Develop tools in industrialization triangle!
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MoDisco
–
generic and
extensible
model driven
reverse
engineering
framework

17. The Sustainable Way:
Develop tools in industrialization triangle!
Labs (scientific experts)
Open
source
End-users
(e.g. big companies)
Professional
Tool
SMEs
(technology providers)
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Service &
Support
Research
challenges
Proof-of-concept

18. The Sustainable Way:
Develop tools in industrialization triangle!
Pros Cons
Real challenges and use
case / scenarios
Relative difficulty to set
(e.g. find the right
technology provider)
Highly qualified
professional/technical
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support
Clean structuring and
applicable results
needed (research is
uncertain!)
Higher
visibility/relevance for
the community

19. Some (other) lessons learned… (1/5)
 Open source license? Choose well…
– Open source is the common factor
– Simplify joint actions and collaboration
 IP, exploitation, dissemination, etc.
– Be careful about commercial adaptations
and redistributions!
 E.g. Eclipse Public License
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20. Some (other) lessons learned… (2/5)
 Integrate a well-known community
– Open source is not enough per se…
– Select lively ecosystems
– Identify a reference community
– Get an official project!
 More visibility but investment needed…
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21. Some (other) lessons learned… (3/5)
 Follow a structured development process
– A real tool needs a real process
 Milestones, bugs, versions…
– Better deal with complexity
and also users
– Rely on open (community) procedures!
 E.g. Eclipse yearly Simultaneous Releases
 Heavy task, company support needed…
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22. Some (other) lessons learned… (4/5)
 Rely on a reference framework
– Stability + reliability = solid ground
 High quality level expected
– Target a wider audience
– Reuse/extend a well-established base
framework
 E.g. Eclipse Modeling Framework
 But be careful about inherited limitations
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23. Some (other) lessons learned… (5/5)
 Be supported by your host lab/institution
– Success requires investment and help…
– Identify the right interlocutor in your
organization
– Get the needed resources and structures
– Be recognized/acknowledged for your
innovation transfer effort!
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24. Conclusion
 No silver bullet leading to successful
(MDE) prototypes
– Different approaches for different contexts
 Open source is an excellent facilitator
– Development, dissemination, business
 Pure research vs. expected/evaluated results
– Short-te development effort  less papers
– industry adoption  opportunities
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25. Thank you for your attention
 Questions or comments
EMFtoCSP https://github.com/atlanmod/EMFtoCSP
EMF-Rest http://emf-rest.com/
Collaboro https://github.com/atlanmod/collaboro
Neo4EMF http://neo4emf.com/
EMF Views http://atlanmod.github.io/emfviews
ATL http://www.eclipse.org/atl/
MoDisco http://www.eclipse.org/MoDisco/
 AtlanMod: http://www.emn.fr/z-info/atlanmod/
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