A DSL for MAPE patterns representation in self-adapting systems

In architecture-based self-adaptation, the adaptation logic is usually structured in terms of MAPE-K (Monitor-Analyze-Plan-Execute over a shared Knowledge) control loops dealing with the adaptation concerns of the managed system. In case of large, complex and decentralized systems, multiple interacting MAPE loops are introduced. Some common design patterns of interactive MAPE components have been proposed in the literature; however, a well-defined way to document them and to express the semantics of their interactions is still missing. This paper presents a domain-specific language, MAPE Specification Language (MSL), as modeling front-end to define and instantiate common patterns of interacting MAPE components when architecting the adaptation logic of a self-adaptive system. We also provide a semantic mapping (implemented by a model generator) to transform MSL descriptions of MAPE pattern instances into formal executable models based on the formalism of self-adaptive Abstract State Machines (ASMs). Such a mapping provides a link to the modeling back-end of ASMs for formally specifying and analyzing the behavior of instances of MAPE patterns.