Wodel: a domain-specific language for model mutation

Abstract

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is a software engineering paradigm that uses models as main assets in all development phases. While many languages for model manipulation exist (e.g., for model transformation or code generation), there is a lack of frameworks to de ne and apply model mutations. A model mutant is a variation of an original model, created by speci c model mutation operations. Model mutation has many applications, for instance, in the areas of model trans- formation testing, model-based testing or education. In this paper, we present a domain-speci c language, called Wodel, for the speci cation and generation of model mu- tants. Wodel is domain-independent, as it can be used to generate mutants of models conforming to arbitrary meta- models. Its development environment is extensible, permit- ting the incorporation of post-processors for di erent appli- cations. As an example, we show an application consisting on the automated generation of exercises for particular do- mains (automata, class diagrams, electronic circuits, etc.).