Taming EMF and GMF using model transformation

EMF and GMF are powerful frameworks for implementing tool support for modelling languages in Eclipse. However, with power comes complexity; implementing a graphical editor for a modelling language using EMF and GMF requires developers to hand craft and maintain several low-level interconnected models through a loosely-guided, labour-intensive and error-prone process. In this paper we demonstrate how the application of model transformation techniques can help with taming the complexity of GMF and EMF and deliver significant productivity, quality, and maintainability benefits. We also present EuGENia, an open-source tool that implements the proposed approach, illustrate its functionality through an example, and report on the community's response to the tool.