Here are some items for consideration regarding Assistance for Tools and Best Practices. Please note that are written from a Domain perspective. Some may have already been covered or have answers that I should know. Mea culpa…
Concise and authoritative definition of metamodel and model (including the distinctions between them), guidance on applicability of each at the domain level (when one is preferred over the other), and how the direction taken affects the writing of RFPs, RFCs, and RFP responses (specifications).
Guidance on the MOF and/or UML constructs that should and should not be used when creating a metamodel vs. model, with particular attention to the implications for generation of XMI. Regarding XMI, there remains a perception that all tools do not generate equivalent representations. Perhaps the ongoing work by the MIWG can inform guidance on tool selection for domain specification modeling.
In cases where an XSD representation of a specification model is required, concise and authoritative definition of the requirements for the structure of the XSD is needed. It may well be necessary to describe constructs that should not be used, e.g., containment. Pete Rivett’s work informs this.
In cases where an XSD representation of a specification model is required and reference is made to another specification that has an XSD representation, the means that should be used to “include by reference” require definition. Establishment of inter-specification associations should be covered.
Two cases (at least) for generation of XSD representations of model specifications exist: 1) Direct generation from the model; and 2) Use of a transform from the XMI representation to an XSD. Guidance is required on which approach is recommended/preferred. In the case of transformation from XMI to XSD, recommendations are needed as to which transforms are considered valid and the methods/means of their use.
In cases where an XSD representation of a specification model is required and reference is made to another specification AND the approach is to create the XSD using a transform from XMI, how would references to the other specification be handled?
In cases where an XSD representation of a specification model is required and reference is made to another specification AND classes/types in the referenced specification are specialized, guidance is needed as to how this should be handled (for the model to XMI to XSD and model to XSD cases).