The notion of Model transformation is of central importance to Information Technology. A software system may be seen as a set of information transformations. The Unix system itself may be viewed as a framework to use and to build transformation programs (filters) from basic transformation languages like grep, sed, awk, perl, etc. A software development process itself may also be considered as a chain of transformation from abstract requirements to executable systems.
Transformation in the model engineering field
Some transformation languages exhibit the characteristic of homoiconicity, in which the language used for expressing a data model is also related to or identical to the transformation language. The most noteworthy example is the relationship between XML and XSLT. This kind of emphasis is viewed by some as having a favorable compatibility with model-driven engineering.
Available transformation languages
QVT : the OMG has defined a standard for model transformation called MOF/QVT or in short QVT.
ATL : a transformation language developed by the INRIA
VIATRA : a framework for transformation-based verification and validation environment
GReAT : a transformation language available in the GME
Tefkat : a transformation language and a model transformation engine
Kermeta : a general purpose modeling and programming language, also able to perform transformaions
MT : a transformation language developed at King's College, London (UK) (based on Converge PL)
SiTra[1] : a pragmatic transformation approach based on using a standard programming language e.g. Java, C#
Lx family (see [2]) : a set of low-level transformation languages
MOLA (see [3]) : a graphical high-level transformation language built in upon Lx.
Stratego/XT : a transformation language based on rewriting with programmable strategies
Czarnecki, K, and Helsen, S : Classification of Model Transformation Approaches. In: Proceedings of the OOPSLA'03 Workshop on the Generative Techniques in the Context Of Model-Driven Architecture, Anaheim, California, USA. Webpublished.
Gronmo, R, and Oldevik, J : An Empirical Study of the UML Model Transformation Tool (UMT). [4]
References
The MDA Journal: Model Driven Architecture Straight From The Masters