A Rewriting Logic-based Meta-Model for Design Patterns Formalization

Abstract

Informal description of design patterns is adopted to facilitate their understanding by software developers. However, these descriptions lead to ambiguities limiting their correct usage in support tools. Hence, there is a need for formal specification of the design patterns to ensure their successful application. In this paper, we propose a new formalization of design pattern while using a meta-model, based on rewriting logic. The meta-model is encoded in Maude to provide an executable framework allowing experimentation of design patterns models and their formal analysis. Indeed, the relevant elements that constitute a design pattern solution are formally deduced from this formalization.