The VIATRA (visual automated model transformations) framework is the core of a transformation-based verification and validation environment for improving the quality of systems designed using the Unified Modeling Language by automatically checking consistency, completeness, and dependability requirements. In the current paper, we present an overview of (i) the major design goals and decisions, (ii) the underlying formal methodology based on metamodeling and graph transformation, (iii) the software architecture based upon the XMI standard, and (iv) several benchmark applications of the VIATRA framework.

The paper introduces a method which allows quantitative dependability analysis of systems modeled by using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) statechart diagrams. The analysis is performed by transforming the UML model to stochastic reward nets (SRNs). A large subset of statechart model elements is supported including event processing, state hierarchy and transition priorities. The transformation is presented by a set of SRN patterns. Performance-related measures can be directly derived using SRN tools, while dependability analysis requires explicit modeling of erroneous states and faulty behavior.