Skip to main content

Towards an Integrated Quality Assessment and Improvement Approach for UML Models

  • Conference paper
SDL 2009: Design for Motes and Mobiles (SDL 2009)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCCN,volume 5719))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Models defined using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) are nowadays common parts of software documentations, specifications and sometimes even implementations. However, there is a broad variety of how UML is used. Reasons can be found, for example, in the lack of generally accepted modeling norms and guidelines, the semi-formal semantics of UML, or the complexity of the language. In practice, these factors inevitably lead to quality problems in UML models that need to be addressed.We investigate and discuss existing work in the field of quality assessment and improvement of UML models and present how we envision an integrated approach to quality assessment and improvement of UML models. We assess a model with a Factor-Criteria-Metrics (FCM) based quality model, detect issues by finding smells and violated metric thresholds in UML models, and improve UML models by applying refactorings using model-to-model transformations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Neukirchen, H., Zeiss, B., Grabowski, J.: An Approach to Quality Engineering of TTCN-3 Test Specifications. International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer (STTT) 10(4), 309–326 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Neukirchen, H., Zeiss, B., Grabowski, J., Baker, P., Evans, D.: Quality Assurance for TTCN-3 Test Specifications. Software Testing, Verification and Reliability (STVR) 18(2) (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Object Management Group (OMG): Meta Object Facility (MOF) Core Specification, Vers. 2.0, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/06-01-01.pdf

  4. Object Management Group (OMG): UML Infrastructure Specification, Vers. 2.2, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/09-02-04.pdf

  5. Object Management Group (OMG): UML Superstructure Specification, Vers. 2.2, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/09-02-02.pdf

  6. Abstratt Technologies: TextUML Toolkit, http://www.abstratt.com

  7. Object Management Group (OMG): MOF 2.0/XMI Mapping, Vers. 2.1.1, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/07-12-01.pdf

  8. Object Management Group (OMG): OCL Core Specification Vers. 2.0, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/06-05-01.pdf

  9. Fenton, N., Pfleeger, S.: Software Metrics: A Rigorous and Practical Approach. PWS Publishing, Boston (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  10. McCall, J., Richards, P., Walters, G.: Factors in Software Quality. Technical Report RADC TR-77-369, US Rome Air Development Center (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  11. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): ISO/IEC Standard No. 9126. Software Engineering- Product Quality; Part 1-4 (2001-2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Basili, V.R., Weiss, D.M.: A Methodology for Collecting Valid Software Engineering Data. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 10(6), 728–738 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fowler, M.: Refactoring – Improving the Design of Existing Code. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1999)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. van Emden, E., Moonen, L.: Java Quality Assurance by Detecting Code Smells. In: Proceedings 9th Working Conference on Reverse Engineering (WCRE 2002), pp. 97–106. IEEE, Los Alamitos (2002)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Parnas, D.: Software Aging. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), pp. 279–287. IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos (1994)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Lange, C.: Assessing and Improving the Quality of Modeling. PhD thesis, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherland (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Lange, C., Chaudron, R.: Managing Model Quality in UML-Based Software Development. In: Proceedings of the 13th IEEE International Workshop on Software Technology and Engineering in Practice (STEP 2005), pp. 7–16. IEEE Computer Society, Washington (2005)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Mohagheghi, P., Aagedal, J.: Evaluating Quality in Model-Driven Engineering. In: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Modeling in Software Engineering (MISE 2007), p. 6. IEEE Computer Society Press, Washington, DC (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Pareto, L., Boquist, U.: A Quality Model for Design Documentation in Model-Centric Projects. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Software Quality Assurance (SOQUA 2006), pp. 30–37. ACM Press, New York (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Lange, C.: Improving the Quality of UML Models in Practice. In: Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE 2006), pp. 993–996. ACM, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Chidamber, S.R., Kemerer, C.: A Metric Suite for Object-Oriented Design. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 20(6), 476–493 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kim, H., Boldyreff, C.: Developing Software Metrics Applicable to UML Models. In: Proceedings of the 6th ECOOP Workshop on Quantitative Approaches in Object-Oriented Engineering (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Baroni, A., Braz, S., Abreu, F.B.: Using OCL to Formalize Object-Oriented Design Metrics Definitions. In: Proceedings of the 6th ECOOP Workshop on Quantitative Approaches in Object-Oriented Software Engineering (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  24. McQuillan, J., Power, J.: A Metamodel for the Measurement of Object-Oriented Systems: An Analysis using Alloy. In: Proceedings of the 2008 international Conference on Software Testing, Verification (ICST), pp. 228–297. IEEE Computer Society Press, Washington (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  25. El-Wakil, M., El-Bastawisi, A., Riad, M.B., Fahmy, A.A.: A Novel Approach to Formalize Object-Oriented Design Metrics. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Empirical Assessment in Software Engineering (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kiewkanya, M., Muenchaisri, P.: Measuring Maintainability in Early Phase using Aesthetic Metrics. In: Dosch, W., Freund, R., Mastorakis, N. (eds.) SEPADS 2005, pp. 1–6. WSEAS, Stevens Point, Wisconsin (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Purchase, H., Allder, J.-a., Carrington, D.: Graph Layout Aesthetics in UML Diagrams: User Preferences. Journal of Graph Algorithms and Applications 6(3), 255–279 (2002)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Eichelberger, H., von Gudenberg, J.W.: UML Class Diagrams - State of the Art in Layout Techniques. In: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Visualizing Software for Understanding and Analysis, Amsterdam (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Gronback, R.: Model Validation: Applying Audits and Metrics to UML Models (2004), http://conferences.codegear.com/jp/article/32089

  30. Ambler, S.: The Elements of UML 2.0 Style. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  31. Astels, D.: Refactoring with UML. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on eXtreme Programming and Flexible Processes in Software Engineering, XP 2002 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Fowler, M.: Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1999)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  33. France, R., Bieman, J.: Multi-View Software Evolution — A UML-based Framework for Evolving Object-Oriented Software. In: Proceedings of 17th IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance (ICSM 2001). IEEE Computer Society Press, Los Alamitos (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sunyé, G., Pollet, D., Traon, Y., Jézéquel, J.: Refactoring UML Models. In: Gogolla, M., Kobryn, C. (eds.) UML 2001. LNCS, vol. 2185, pp. 134–148. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  35. Porres, I.: Model Refactorings as Rule-Based Update Transformations. In: Stevens, P., Whittle, J., Booch, G. (eds.) UML 2003. LNCS, vol. 2863, pp. 159–174. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Dobrzański, L.: UML Model Refactoring- Support for Maintenance of Executable UML Models. Master’s thesis, Blekinge Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Ronneby, Sweden (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Mellor, S., Balcer, M.: Executable UML: A Foundation for Model-Driven Architecture. Addison-Wesley, Reading (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Biermann, E., Ermel, C., Taentzer, G.: Precise Semantics of EMF Model Transformations by Graph Transformation. In: Czarnecki, K., Ober, I., Bruel, J.-M., Uhl, A., Völter, M. (eds.) MODELS 2008. LNCS, vol. 5301, pp. 53–67. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  39. Folli, A., Mens, T.: Refactoring of UML models using AGG. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International ERCIM Symposium on Software Evolution (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Taentzer, G.: A Graph Transformation Environment for Modeling and Validation of Software. In: Pfaltz, J.L., Nagl, M., Böhlen, B. (eds.) AGTIVE 2003. LNCS, vol. 3062, pp. 446–453. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  41. Battista, G.D., Eades, P., Tamassia, R., Tollis, I.G.: Graph Drawing - Algorithms for the Visualization of Graphs. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1998)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  42. Castello, R., Mili, R., Tollis, I.: Automatic Layout of Statecharts. Software Practice & Experience 32(1), 25–55 (2002)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  43. SDMetrics: The Software Design Metrics tool for the UML, http://www.sdmetrics.com

  44. Borland: Borland Together, http://www.borland.com/us/products/together

  45. IBM: IBM Rational Systems Developer, http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/developer/systemsdeveloper

  46. ArgoUML Project: ArgoUML, http://argouml.tigris.org

  47. Lange, C., Chaudron, R.: Empanada: Empirical analysis of architecture and design quality, http://www.win.tue.nl/empanada/tools.htm

  48. Boger, M., Sturm, T., Fragemann, P.: Refactoring Browser for UML. In: Aksit, M., Mezini, M., Unland, R. (eds.) NODe 2002. LNCS, vol. 2591, pp. 366–377. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  49. Gorp, P., Stenten, H., Mens, T., Demeyer, S.: Towards Automating Source-Consistent UML Refactorings. In: Stevens, P., Whittle, J., Booch, G. (eds.) UML 2003. LNCS, vol. 2863, pp. 144–158. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  50. Seuring, P.: Design and Implementation of a UML Model Refactoring Tool. Master’s thesis, Hasso-Plattner-Institute for Software Systems Engineering at the University of Potsdam (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Zeiss, B., Vega, D., Schieferdecker, I., Neukirchen, H., Grabowski, J.: Applying the ISO 9126 Quality Model to Test Specifications – Exemplified for TTCN-3 Test Specifications. In: Proceedings of Software Engineering 2007 (SE 2007). Lecture Notes in Informatics (LNI), vol. 105, Köllen Verlag (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Object Management Group (OMG): Meta Object Facility (MOF) 2.0 Query/View/Transformation Specification, http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/08-04-03.pdf

  53. openArchitectureWare.org: openArchitectureWare (oAW), http://www.openarchitectureware.org

  54. Jouault, F., Allilaire, F., Bézivin, J., Kurtev, I., Valduriez, P.: ATL: A QVT-Like Transformation Language. In: Companion to the 21st ACM SIGPLAN Symposium on Object-Oriented Programming Systems, Languages, and Applications. ACM Press, New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Eclipse Foundation: Eclipse Model Development Tools (MDT) OCL, http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/?project=ocl

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Jalbani, A.A., Grabowski, J., Neukirchen, H., Zeiss, B. (2009). Towards an Integrated Quality Assessment and Improvement Approach for UML Models. In: Reed, R., Bilgic, A., Gotzhein, R. (eds) SDL 2009: Design for Motes and Mobiles. SDL 2009. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5719. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04554-7_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04554-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-04553-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-04554-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics