Model Composition Via Object-Role Modeling

Composition is a fundamental operation used in approaches to model-driven engineering. In this paper we present a mechanism for composing multiple models using Object-Role Modeling, as opposed to the Unified Modeling Language. We then describe an example based on the Object Management Group's Diagram Definition specification. We have proposed to define a software process, and develop a toolset to support it, that eliminates the need to directly write code in a conventional programming language. It is an approach to model-driven engineering that emphasizes the manipulation of software design artifacts over the manual maintenance of software implementation artifacts such as source code.