Transformation language integration based on profiles and higher order transformations

For about two decades, researchers have been constructing tools for applying graph transformations on large model transformation case studies. Instead of incrementally extending a common core, these competitive tool builders have repeatedly reconstructed mechanisms that were already supported by other tools. Not only has this been counter-productive, it has also prevented the definition of new language constructs independently of a specific transformation tool. Moreover, it has complicated the comparison of transformation languages. This paper describes a light-weight solution to this integration problem. The approach is based on executable transformation modeling using a small UML profile and on higher order transformations. It enables the integration of graph transformation tools such as Fujaba, VMTS and GReAT. The paper illustrates the approach by discussing the contribution of a Copy operator to any of these tools. Other language constructs can be realized similarly, without locking into specific tools.