Eclipse Process Framework (EPF)

[YogaMatt]

Anybody done any integration between EA and EPF?

[PeterHeintz]

Just for information!

I use both EA and EPF (RMC).
I  use EA to specific what will be content of EPF.
This specification goes to a level of detail, describing want elements I will have in EPF and how those are related to each other.
However I do not try to automatically transfer that information to epf.

For me it seems to be possible with some effort for a "one shot" solution. A solution allowing updates or even working and synchronizing on both sides, is for sure much more effort.
And I am pretty sure even a solution for that would be there I would not use it.
For me in this scenario EA is specification and epf is implementation.

[YogaMatt]

Hello Peter, and thank you very much for your thoughts.

It is good to learn of this possibility, and it would be interesting to see an example model of an EPF spec. Basis for an MDG?

But I need to refine my question: I was thinking that if the EPF implementation is about things you do in EA, that the EPF could direct you into the right place in your EA model - and therefore act as a computer-based coach / guide into EA. Back to the floor?

Namaste,

YM

[PeterHeintz]

Again, just for information!
So what we are doing here is the to specify with EA (UML, SysML [we even do not us EA SPEM]) what will go in EPF.

The value that comes out of our published EPF content is our approach to develop safety related systems. For this approach we use among other things EA and because of that the EPF publication also describes how we work with EA to develop our systems (it does not describe how we use EA to feed EPF).

We have neither an explicit connection from EA to EPF (EPF content definition) nor from EPF to EA (system development).
So EPF output is in fact just a more state of the art process description but nothing more. To avoid that process description in one thing and reality is something completely different, we have created a EA MDG technologies that supports the users in their work and in complying to our process requirements.

I know that I do not exactly address your issue, but I maybe it is good to share some information.

[YogaMatt]

Peter, again very helpful, thank you.

The use of EPF in describing work in EA part is what we're currently considering, though you raise the additional point which is to model the EPF in EA. I'd be really interested in your EPF domain model (EA xmi file) - would that be possible?

On the matter of an explicit connection between EPF to EA: I'm not sure I completely understand this:

To avoid that process description in one thing and reality is something completely different, we have created a EA MDG technologies that supports the users in their work and in complying to our process requirements.

Please could you describe further?

Good karma!

YM

[PeterHeintz]

Well, I cannot give you all my stuff, but I can give you some model fragments that gives you the understanding of what we are doing.

I suggest you, to use the “Send personal message” feature to agree on a way of file sharing for us (I did not us that forum feature up to now).

Regarding EA EPF connection, I do mean that we do not have any explicit connection at all.
MDG is just support!

Examples:
1)   In EPF process (just published HTML pages) it is defined that we structure out EA packages in a common way. The MDG provides our default package structure to the user.
2)   In EPF we define that we have requirements of type Goal using a special requirements modelling language and Solution Oriented Requirements, modeled with stereotyped SysML requirements. The MDG provide the “special” Goal language and the stereotypes for the solution oriented requirements.
3)   ….

[Giu Platania]

I'm also an user of EA and EPF.
what I did in the past was a prototype cartridge, generating the EPF XMI from a EA model. 

[PeterHeintz]

How did you generate the epf xmi?

[Giu Platania]

I exported the model in ECORE format using the tools 4 EA and then I generated the XMI with XPAND