Metamodel-Driven Design of Database Applications

Abstract

This article describes the unified metamodel of object system which can be used for Metamodel-Driven Design (MMDD) of information system. At the beginning of the work carried out in-depth analysis of existing studies devoted to the organization different metamodels. Metamodel for representing fragments in the figures presented class diagrams of Unified Modeling Language (UML). The metamodel is realized by the author in own environment of development SharpArchitect RAD Studio. In the beginning of this article provides a general diagram which displays important associations. Next are separately shown metaclasses hierarchy which representing the entity classes of domain. There are also metaclasses to represent different types of class attributes. In addition, there are metaclasses to represent methods validation rules and visualization rules. This allows the system to implement the behavior the need for object-oriented design and allows to configure the graphical user interface. Each hierarchy is described in detail with an indication of abstract and concrete classes and associations in which they participate.

Any database system can be developed in terms of a unified metamodel of object system described in detail in this article. This work provides links to the work that is described in detail the experience of using the described metamodel. As further development of the work the author suggest the development of a formal mathematical apparatus describing applied domains and the development of UML-profile that facilitates the process of logical design of information systems in the framework of the proposed approach.

This paper describes a practical experience of the implementation of the authors of information system that automates the activities of a fast food restaurant. We studied in detail the functionality a similar system of the most popular in Russia.