A Reflective Aspect-Oriented Model Editor Based on Metamodel Extension

AspectM, an aspect-oriented modeling language, provides not only basic modeling constructs but also an extension mechanism called metamodel access protocol (MMAP) that allows a modeler to modify the metamodel. MMAP consists of metamodel extension points, extension operations, and primitive predicates for defining pointcut designators. In this paper, a reflective model editor for supporting MMAP is proposed. A new modeling construct can be introduced by extending the metamodel. This mechanism, a kind of edit-time structural reflection, enables a modeler to represent domain-specific crosscutting concerns.