Reflection on the differences between modeling and programming

Software & Systems Modeling, vol. 21, pp. 2097–2099

Abstract

For a 2012 editorial [1], the relationships between modeling and programming languages were discussed.A decade later, it seems appropriate to revisit this issue because there is still not a widely accepted consensus on the main purpose of modeling languages and their models in software development.In this editorial, we highlight the most important aspects when identifying commonalities and differences between modeling and programming languages.We are fully aware that a detailed examination of all these relationships, properties, and their interdependencies is far beyond this short reflection.An important property of a program is its ability to be executed.Many models are also created with executability in mind.An executable model must incorporate all relevant aspects, including structure and behavioral properties, such that a code generator or interpreter can derive executable code from the model.However, models sometimes also serve different purposes that programming languages do not handle well or not at all, which is why modeling languages for software development are needed.Abstraction is often better served by appropriate modeling languages, where abstraction mechanisms are part of the language and defined within the model.Examples are superstate, sub-state mechanisms in Statecharts, or simulation relations between Statecharts, or logical implication that can be applied as a refinement relation between logical formulae, such as preconditions or invariants.Programming languages mainly concentrate on super/sub-classes in object-oriented languages when introducing abstraction mechanisms.Along with abstraction, an important need is the ability or even necessity to specify structural and behavioral properties that are not directly executable.Underspecification is an intrinsic abstraction concept that programming languages do B

Authors 2

1. Jeff Gray

   University of Alabama

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

2. Bernhard Rumpe⋆ corresponding Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany