Collaboration is an essential part of developing complex systems. In model-based engineering, for example when using Capella, it involves working with models in addition to source code and other artifacts. While tools like EMF Diff/Merge and EMF Compare allow modellers to compare models and merge differences, saving these differences in a portable form has only been experimented with (both EPatch and MPatch in EMF Compare have been abandoned).
Programmers use patches to represent modifications in source code (or other textual content) for decades. The Eclipse desktop IDE can create and apply patches, and contributions to Eclipse.org projects that need IP checking are also handled as patches.
It is time to give similar lightweight, persistent patches to modellers as well!
In this presentation, you will hear about:
- Practices and challenges of collaboration on models for Thales and Capella users
- The new Model Patch component of EMF Diff/Merge that supports the generation and application of standalone, portable patches for EMF-based models
- How model patches supplement model differencing and merging in EMF comparison tools or the EMF Change model
- Live demo of model patches and discussion on its usage in EMF-based applications
We will also talk about the possibilities of model patches outside of the EMF world.
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