Domain-specific Visual Languages

We have been researching the use of domain-specific visual languages and associated support tools for many years.  The idea is to support the modelling of complex systems using visual models better-suited to target end user cognitive processes and understanding. We have developed many DSVL tools along with several platforms for developing DSVL tools - DSVL meta-tools - including MViews, JViews, JComposer, Pounamu, Marama and Horus. Some examples are highlighted below.

Currently I am interested in techniques to better design and evaluate DSVLs, further uses of DSVL tool ideas including applying DSVLs to security and cloud engineering domains, and a next-generation DSVL meta-tool platform to extend our Horus meta-tools.

Representative funding

• ARC Discovery - 2017-19 - J Grundy, M Abdelrazek, Q He, J Hosking, $334,000 for 3 years, Domain-specific visual languages for big data analytics applications

• ARC Discovery - 2012-14  - J Grundy, R Sadus, W van Straten, D Barnes, $320,000 for 3 years, Model driven engineering of scientific software for GPUs

• FRST RFI 2007 - 2007-2012 - J Grundy, J Hosking, RJ Noble, E Tempero, E Mendes, N Churcher, S MacDonnell, J Dietrich, $3,800,000 for 4.75 years, Software Process and Product Improvement

• FRST RFI 2002 - 2002 - 2005 - J Grundy, J Hosking, R Amor, E Mendes, E Tempero, RJ Noble, R Biddle, $2,300,000 for 5 years, Domain-specific software tools

• FRST NERF 2002 - 2002-2003 - J Blackham, J Grundy, J Hosking, $842,000 for 2 years, A Real-time Dataset for Enterprise Application Integration

• FRST NERF 1999 - 1999-2001 - J Blackham, $1,250,000 for 2.5 years, Database Aggregation for E-Commerce

Representative papers and projects

DSc Thesis

• Grundy, J.C., Domain-specific Visual Languages for Model-driven Software Engineering, Doctor of Science (DSc) thesis, University of Auckland, 2023.  Introduction and links version  PDF  or  HTML   The full version (its BIG!)  PDF  

Big data analytics DSVLs

• Khalajzadeh, H., Simmons, A., Abdelrazek, M., Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., He, Q., Domain-specific Visual Languages for Supporting Big Data Analytics Development, 15th International Conference on Evaluation of Novel Approaches to Software Engineering (ENASE2020), 5-6 May 2020, Prague, Chez Republic, IEEE.  PDF

• Khalajzadeh, H., Abdelrazek, M., Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., He, Q.. A Survey of Current End-user Data Analytics Tool Support, to appear in IEEE Transactions on Big Data, 2019. PDF 

• Khalajzadeh, H., Abdelrazek, M., Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., He, Q. BiDaML: A Suite of Visual Languages for Supporting End-user Data Analytics, 2019 IEEE Big Data Congress, Milan, Italy, July 8-13 2019  PDF 

Software Architecture DSVLs

• Grundy, J.C., Cai, Y. and Liu, A. SoftArch/MTE: Generating Distributed System Test-beds from High-level Software Architecture Descriptions, Automated Software Engineering, Kluwer Academic Publishers, vol. 12, no. 1, January 2005, pp. 5-39. PDF

• Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. SoftArch: integrated support for software architecture development, International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering, vol 13, no 2, April 2003, World Scientific, pp. 125-152. PDF.

• Cai, Y., Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. Experiences Integrating and Scaling a Performance Test Bed Generator with an Open Source CASE Tool, In Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, Linz, Austria, September 20-24, IEEE CS Press, pp. 36-45. PDF

Software Design DSVLs

• Maplesden, D., Hosking, J.G. and Grundy, J.C. A Visual Language for Design Pattern Modelling and Instantiation, Chapter 2 in Design Patterns Formalization Techniques, Toufik Taibi (Ed), Idea Group Inc., Hershey, USA, March 2007 PDF

  • Grundy, J.C. Multi-perspective specification, design and implementation of components using aspects, International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 2000, World Scientific. PDF

  • Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., Fenwick, S., Mugridge, W.B., Connecting the pieces, Chapter 11 in Visual Object-oriented Programming, M. Burnett, A. Goldberg, T. Lewis Eds, Manning/Prentice-Hall, 1995.PDF

  • Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., Hamer, J., A Visual Programming Environment for Object-Oriented Languages, In Proceedings of TOOLS US 1991 Conference, Santa Barbara, Prentice-Hall, August, 1991, pp. 129-138. PDF

User Interface DSVLs

• Liu, N., Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. A Visual Language and Environment for Specifying User Interface Event Handling in Design Tools, In Proceedings of the 2007 Australasian Conference on User Interfaces, Ballarat, Australia, CRPIT Press. PDF

• Zhao, D., Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. Generating mobile device user  interfaces for diagram-based modelling tools, In Proceedings of the 2006 Australasian User Interface Conference, Hobart, Australia, January 2006. PDF

• Grundy, J.C. and Yang, B. An environment for developing adaptive, multi-device user interfaces, In Proceedings of the 4th Australasian Conference on User Interfaces, Adelaide, Australia, February 3-7 2003.PDF

Process Modelling and Enactment DSVLs

• Helland, T., Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. A Service-Oriented Architecture for Software Process Technology, In Proceedings of the 2006 Australian Conference on Software Engineering, Sydney, April 2006, IEEE CS Press. PDF

• Grundy, J.C., Hosking, J.G., Mugridge, W.B., Apperley, M.D. An architecture and environment for decentralised, internet-wide software process modelling and enactment, IEEE Internet Computing: Special Issue on Software Engineering via the Internet, Vol. 2, No. 5, September/October 1998, IEEE CS Press, pp. 53-62. PDF

• Grundy, J.C., Mugridge, W.B., Hosking J.G. Supporting Large-scale End-user specification of workflows, work coordination and tool integration, Journal of End-User Computing, Vol. 10, No. 2, May 1998, Idea Group Publishing, pp. 39-49. PDF

• Grundy, J.C. and Hosking, J.G. Serendipity: integrated environment support for process modelling, enactment and work coordination, Automated Software Engineering: Special Issue on Process Technology, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 1998, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 27-60. PDF

Non-software Engineering DSVLs

• Kim, C., Hosking, J.G. and Grundy, J.C. Model Driven Design and Implementation of Statistical Surveys, In Proceedings of HICSS40 � Mini-track on Model-driven development, Hawaii, January 2007, IEEE CS Press. PDF

• Kim, C.H. Hosking, J.G. and Grundy, J.C. Generating Web Services for Statistical Survey Packages from Domain-specific Visual Languages, In Proceedings of the ICSE2007 Workshop on Incorporating COTS Software into Software Systems: Tools and Techniques, Minnesota, USA, May 22nd 2007, IEEE CS Press PDF

• Kim, C. Hosking, J.G., Grundy, J.C. A Suite of Visual Languages for Statistical Survey Specification, In Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE Conference on Visual Languages/Human-Centric Computing, Dallas, Texas, 20-24 September 2005, IEEE CS Press. PDF

• Li, Y., Grundy, J.C., Amor, R. and Hosking, J.G. A data mapping specification environment using a concrete business form-based metaphor, In Proceedings of the 2002 International Conference on Human-Centric Computing, IEEE CS Press. PDF

• Grundy, J.C., Mugridge, W.B., Hosking, J.G. and Kendal, P. Generating EDI Message Translations from Visual Specifications, In Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, San Diego, 26-29 Nov 2001, IEEE CS Press, pp. 35-42 PDF