SysML meta-model

Introduction

The OMG systems Modeling Language (OMG SysML™) is a general-purpose graphical modeling language for specifying, analyzing, designing, and verifying complex systems. The OMG defines SysML as a UML profile. This definition as a profile makes it difficult to apply model transformations ("model to model" and "model to text") as it not formal enough.
This proposal aims at defining a SysML metamodel which will help in defining formal SysML models. It should be a "UML2-like" MdT component

This proposal is in the Project Proposal Phase (as defined in the Eclipse Development Process document) and is written to declare its intent and scope. This proposal is written to solicit additional participation and input from the Eclipse community. You are invited to comment on and/or join the project. Please send all feedback to Stephane PELLESCHI or to the TOPCASED Technical Commitee mailing list.

Background

In the scope of the Aerospace Valley program which aim is to define a Complex Systems development process, TOPCASED represents a toolkit used to define modelling and code generating means. The SysML editor is one of the key modeling editors (with UML, ECore, AADL and SAM) provided by the TOPCASED toolkit to model complex systems. In order to provide this editor, a SysML meta-model has been defined.

This meta-model is based on the OMG SysML specification 1.0 released in May 2006.

Scope

The objectives of the SysML meta-model project are to:

Provide a complete description of the SysML meta-model in order to define formal SyML models and formal transformations from those models.
Make easier the update of any editor while the works on the SysML specification are active.
Include UML2 meta-model for all common elements.

Description

This SysML meta-model is based on the ECORE meta-model description.

This meta-model provides :

all the UML2 elements (UML2 meta-model bound as a ressource),
all the definition of the SysML elements,
Specific definition of a SysML package element.

Organization

Initial committers

The Initial committers are identified on the Topcased project as a team dedicated to the SysML editor development. The team is composed as follow:

Raphael FAUDOU (Atos Origin): project lead
Stephane PELLESCHI (Atos Origin): project manager
Thibault LANDRE (Atos Origin): developper

The project is hosted on the Topcased site as the SysML project.

Interested parties

Developer community

The SysML meta-model needs to follow the specifications changes. In that way, contributors can propose modifications but these ones have to be validated by the project team. On the editor itself, the community is by now limited to the project team but will be opened to external contributors ( as for the entire Topcased project).

User community

The SysML meta-model is mainly tested and validated by the Topcased users through the editor. However, everyone can use it and can report bugs or propose new features. A bug tracker system and a feature proposal system are present on the project site.

Tentative Plan

2006 : Initial release of the SysML meta-model
2007-05 : meta-model completed with a SysML specific package and a containment element (meta-model found with 1.0.0M4 release of the SysML editor).