Classification of Model Transformation Approaches

While the current OMG standards such as the Meta Object Facility (MOF) [MOF] and the UML [UML] provide a well-established foundation for defining PIMs and PSMs, no such wellestablished foundation exists for transforming PIMs into PSMs [GLR+02]. In 2002, in its effort to change this situation, the OMG initiated a standardization process by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Query / Views / Transformations (QVT) [QVT]. This process will eventually lead to an OMG standard for defining model transformations, which will be of interest not only for PIM-to-PSM transformations, but also for defining views on models and synchronization between models. Driven by practical needs and the OMG’s request, a large number of approaches to model transformation have recently been proposed.