Create Your Own Modeling Language: Theory and Practice

While standard, generalized approaches, solutions, tech-stacks and tools have been promoted as a way to tackle many inherent problems in software development, the one-size-fits-all approach they often provide does not always fit everyone and it is definitely a tough game to seek competitive edge by following the same practices and using the same tools as everybody else. Their usage quite often also involves a trade-off between the comfort brought by the conformity versus innovation and flexibility. Hence, in many cases a tailor-made software automation solution with your own modeling language - armed with equally focused import and export tools - provides a viable alternative to boost your development activities and still hold the reins. Traditionally the problem with this kind of “roll your own” approach has been the time and cost of such a development effort. In this presentation Juha-Pekka Tolvanen and Risto Pohjonen will demonstrate that with a bit of a good old thinking-out-of-the-box, well-understood process and proper tool support, it is possible and practical to create own modeling languages and their support environments within a few days, if not hours. The presentation walks us through the theoretical background of modeling language development, the use of metamodeling as a speedway to the language definition and implementation and the practical key considerations when forging the final, deployable modeling and automation environment (sneak-peeks of which will be naturally provided, too).

Speakers
Juha-Pekka Tolvanen works for MetaCase. He has been involved in domain-specific languages and tools since 1991 and acted as a consultant world-wide on their use. Juha-Pekka has co-authored a book (Domain-Specific Modeling, Wiley 2008) and over 100 articles in software development magazines and conferences. Juha-Pekka holds a Ph.D. in computer science and is an adjunct professor at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Risto Pohjonen works as a data architect and a head of Design and Platforms team at Netum. He has nearly 30 years experience of creating modeling languages and their tool support and is guilty for a good number of articles and conference presentations about the topic.

Schedule
16:30 - Doors open
17:00 - Opening words
17:05 - Presentation
18:30 - Discussion and unofficial MMM Xmas party
21:00 - Closing

Arrangements
The premises have been booked for longer than usual as the "formal" part of the Meetup will be followed by the unofficial MMM Xmas party, providing us with a relaxed environment to discuss and to get to know each other better :-)

Welcome and feel free to bring your colleagues or other interested persons!