FacadeMetamodel: masking UML

UML profiling is pragmatic choice that lets language designers define a Domain-Specific Modeling Language (DSML) by tuning UML to meet specific domain. An alternative approach is to define a pure-DSML. Each approach has its own benefits and drawbacks. We propose an approach and a tool that helps get the best from both approaches; maximizing reuse while retaining a focused and adapted DSML. We guide the language designer in the definition of a metamodel based on one or more UML profiles. Language designers then recast UML so that only what they need will appear in this metamodel. From that, the tool automatically generates the pure-DSML and the transformations between it and UML. However, the new pure-DSML is only a facade; models can be manipulated using the pure-DSML abstract syntax but they are actually stored in fully-compliant UML abstract syntax and therefore remain compatible with UML tools.