On the use of graph transformations for model refactoring

Model-driven software engineering promotes the use of models and transformations as primary artifacts. Several formalisms can be used for the specification of model transformations. We propose to represent models as graphs, and model transformations as graph transformations. In particular, we focus on the activity of model refactoring, and show how graph transformation theory can provide formal support for this activity. We also show how such support can be implemented in state-of-the-art graph transformation tools such as AGG and Fujaba, and provide two concrete experiments. Critical pair analysis in AGG enables the analysis of dependencies between model refactorings. The round-trip engineering facility of Fujaba enables the automatic generation of code for model refactorings.