Forward Engineering and UML: From UML Static Models to Eiffel Code

Abstract

This chapter describes a reuse-based rigorous process to transform UML static models to object-oriented code. The bases of this approach are the GSBLoo algebraic language to cope with concepts of UML static models and the SpReIm model for defining structured collections of reusable components. We have defined a mapping between UML static models and GSBLoo. The emphasis in this chapter is given to the last steps in the road from UML to code. Eiffel™ is the language of choice in which we chose to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. We analyze how to transform GSBLoo specifications into code. In particular, we show how to translate different kinds of UML associations to Eiffel. Also, we describe how to construct assertions from GSBLoo specifications. All of the proposed transformations can be automated; they allow traceability and can be integrated into the iterative and incremental software development processes supported by the existing UML CASE tools.