Abstract
Visual Modeling Languages (VMLs) are important instruments of communication between modelers and stakeholders. Thus, it is important to provide guidelines for designing VMLs. The most widespread approach for analyzing and designing concrete syntaxes for VMLs is the so-called Physics of Notation (PoN). PoN has been successfully applied in the analysis of several VMLs. However, despite its popularity, the application of PoN principles for designing VMLs has been limited. This paper presents a systematic approach for applying PoN in the design of the concrete syntax of VMLs. We propose here a design process establishing activities to be performed, their connection to PoN principles, as well as criteria for grouping PoN principles that guide this process. Moreover, we present a case study in which a visual notation for representing Ontology Pattern Languages is designed.
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- 1.
PONS is a region of the brainstem with neural pathways that carry sensory signals including those related to eye movement. Etymologically, the term from Latin also means bridge.
- 2.
This icon is commonly used by UML to represent that an element represented by the decorated construct encapsulates further elements. A similar symbol is used by ARIS.
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Acknowledgments
This research is funded by the Brazilian Research Funding Agency CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) (Processes 461777/2014-2 and 206255/2014-4).
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da Silva Teixeira, M., Quirino, G.K., Gailly, F., de Almeida Falbo, R., Guizzardi, G., Perini Barcellos, M. (2016). PoN-S: A Systematic Approach for Applying the Physics of Notation (PoN). In: Schmidt, R., Guédria, W., Bider, I., Guerreiro, S. (eds) Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling. BPMDS EMMSAD 2016 2016. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 248. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39429-9_27
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