An approach for mapping the aspect state models to aspect-oriented code

Abstract

Model-driven code generation allows rapid generation of precise code thus reducing the development effort and the delivery time. Consequently, model-driven code generation has been a topic of interest in varying perspectives. While model-driven code generation has been explored well in many domains, its full potential has not been exploited in the context of aspect-oriented software development. The existing approaches have mainly focused on code generation from class diagrams only. Code generation from class diagrams is straightforward as majority of the constructs involved in these diagrams are directly mapped to those in programming languages. However, code generated using class diagrams is limited to skeletons of classes and methods only and does not contain behavior. In this study, we use the state diagrams and propose a mapping of its constructs to AspectJ language. We use the Reusable Aspect Models notation for this purpose. The approach addresses the mapping of both structure and behavior, however, owing to their strength with respect to modeling the system behavior, it essentially focuses on the state diagrams encapsulated in these models. A detailed mapping of different features of the state diagrams is proposed. The approach is illustrated by means of aspect models and corresponding mapped code from an aspect-oriented implementation of a Remote Service Caller example. The implementation shows that the approach can effectively be applied to obtain code for complete structure and behavior modeled using Reusable Aspect Models.