Architectural Refactorings through Model Transformations

Abstract

Several efforts in the last years have demonstrated a trend in using models as first class entities on system development. As any major artefact in the development, models are driven by stakeholder and architectural needs to be continuously refactored. Furthermore, critical problems arise in this scenario when the model transformations that perform these refactorings are not reliable. In this work we automatise a comprehensive set of sound transformation laws for component based system. From these laws, it is possible to safely perform from basic behavioural or static changes to elaborated refactorings in these systems, as we show in this paper through a case study. Moreover, the systematic use of these laws allows one to improve the development productivity and reliability. For instance, architectural refactorings easily allows one to achieve architectural and design patterns, as well as to improve certain quality attributes, such as modularity.