The Eclipse Subproject, the Generative Model Transformer shall result in a set of tools for model driven software development with fully customisable Platform Independent Models, Platform Description Models, Texture Mappings, and Refinement Transformations. That shall result in

• a tool that fulfils the MDA promise for faster/more accurate/better maintainable application development.
• a tool for industrial use
• MDA related research – which is encouraged and needed

GMT will consist of four main components:

• A mapping component that can combine two XMI-encoded models into one new XMI-encoded model
• A model transformation component using XMI as input and output.
• text generation component, using XMI as input and text (code) as output.
• A workflow component that provides the required glue between the three functional components above, any additional user-developed MDA tool components, and popular IDEs/tool platforms such as Eclipse

But any further component that fulfils the basic requirement of allowing XMI input should be usable as a GMT tool – which opens the market again for extensions a lot.

Although this project was started in May 2003, they plan a version 1.0 in September (2003) already. I am looking forward to this!

For an introduction to model transformations check this description. For a general introduction into the MDA – model driven architecture standard check Object Management Group's page or a more general introduction like Tools for the code generation or What is in the standard? by Johanna Ambrosi