In order to generate data models from all kinds of inputs, we need a common structure for how we interact with one. That structure is called MetaModel
often referred to as Modelina Meta Model
, Raw Meta Model
, or MMM
. And there are two parts to it, there is the meta model and then the constrained meta model.
The meta model is what inputs (now and in the future) such as Protobuf, JSON Schema, JSON Type Definition, GraphQL types, are gonna be converted into. This is also an input in it'self that you can provide Modelina to create your own input processor.
These are the meta models and their meaning:
- ArrayModel is an unordered collection of a specific MetaModel.
- TupleModel is an ordered collection of MetaModels.
- EnumModel is group of constants.
- UnionModel represent that the model can be either/or other MetaModels.
- ObjectModel is a structure, that can be generated to class/interface/struct, etc, depending on the output language
- DictionaryModel is a map/dictionary of key/value MetaModels.
- ReferencedModel is primarily used for when models should be split up (see the splitting of meta models) and referenced, or it could be an external reference to an external entity.
- BooleanModel represent boolean values.
- IntegerModel represent natural numbers.
- FloatModel represent floating-point numbers.
- StringModel represent string values.
- AnyModel represent generic values that cannot otherwise be represented by one of the other models.
---
title: Meta Model
---
classDiagram
direction BT
class MetaModel {
<<Abstract class>>
String name
Any originalInput
}
class TupleValueModel{
<<class>>
Number index
MetaModel value
}
class TupleModel{
<<class>>
TupleValueModel[] tupleModels
}
class ObjectModel{
<<class>>
<String, ObjectPropertyModel> properties
}
class ObjectPropertyModel{
<<class>>
String propertyName
Boolean required
MetaModel property
}
class ArrayModel{
<<class>>
MetaModel valueModel
}
class UnionModel{
<<class>>
MetaModel[] unionModels
}
class EnumValueModel{
<<class>>
String key
Any value
}
class EnumModel{
<<class>>
EnumValueModel[] values
}
class BooleanModel{
<<class>>
}
class StringModel{
<<class>>
}
class IntegerModel{
<<class>>
}
class FloatModel{
<<class>>
}
class AnyModel{
<<class>>
}
class ReferencedModel{
<<class>>
MetaModel referencedModel
}
class DictionaryModel{
<<class>>
MetaModel keyModel
MetaModel valueModel
'unwrap' | 'normanl' serializationType
}
TupleValueModel:value --> MetaModel
ObjectPropertyModel:property --> MetaModel
ArrayModel:valueModel --> MetaModel
DictionaryModel:valueModel --> MetaModel
DictionaryModel:keyModel --> MetaModel
TupleModel "1 ... n" *-- TupleValueModel
ObjectModel "1 ... n" *-- ObjectPropertyModel
UnionModel "1 ... n" *-- "1 ... n" MetaModel
EnumModel o-- EnumValueModel
TupleModel --|> MetaModel
ObjectModel --|> MetaModel
ArrayModel --|> MetaModel
UnionModel --|> MetaModel
EnumModel --|> MetaModel
BooleanModel --|> MetaModel
IntegerModel --|> MetaModel
StringModel --|> MetaModel
FloatModel --|> MetaModel
AnyModel --|> MetaModel
ReferencedModel --|> MetaModel
DictionaryModel --|> MetaModel
Before the meta modelss reaches the generator, it needs to be constrained
to the output.
For example, constraining the EnumModel in Java means taking the raw enum key (for the meta model there are no constrains to what values may be used) such as something% something
and convert it to a compliant Java enum key that can be accessed directly in the generator and presets.
This means that if you accessed EnumValueModel.key
you would get something% something
, and with the Java constrained variant ConstrainedEnumValueModel.key
you get (example) SOMETHING_PERCENT_SOMETHING
.
How and what are constrained?
The answer to this question is not straightforward, cause each output has unique constraints that the meta models must adhere to. You can read more about the constraint behavior here.
---
title: Constrained Meta Model
---
classDiagram
direction RL
class MetaModel {
<<Abstract class>>
String name
Any originalInput
}
class ConstrainedMetaModel {
<<Abstract class>>
String type
}
class ConstrainedTupleValueModel{
<<class>>
Number index
ConstrainedMetaModel value
}
class ConstrainedTupleModel{
<<class>>
ConstrainedTupleValueModel[] tupleModels
}
class ConstrainedObjectModel{
<<class>>
<String, ObjectPropertyModel> properties
}
class ConstrainedObjectPropertyModel{
<<class>>
String propertyName
Boolean required
ConstrainedMetaModel property
}
class ConstrainedArrayModel{
<<class>>
ConstrainedMetaModel valueModel
}
class ConstrainedUnionModel{
<<class>>
ConstrainedMetaModel[] unionModels
}
class ConstrainedEnumValueModel{
<<class>>
String key
Any value
}
class ConstrainedEnumModel{
<<class>>
EnumValueModel[] values
}
class ConstrainedBooleanModel{
<<class>>
}
class ConstrainedStringModel{
<<class>>
}
class ConstrainedIntegerModel{
<<class>>
}
class ConstrainedFloatModel{
<<class>>
}
class ConstrainedAnyModel{
<<class>>
}
class ConstrainedReferencedModel{
<<class>>
ConstrainedMetaModel referencedModel
}
class ConstrainedDictionaryModel{
<<class>>
ConstrainedMetaModel keyModel
ConstrainedMetaModel valueModel
'unwrap' | 'normanl' serializationType
}
ConstrainedTupleValueModel:value --> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedObjectPropertyModel:property --> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedArrayModel:valueModel --> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedDictionaryModel:valueModel --> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedDictionaryModel:keyModel --> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedTupleModel "1 ... n" *-- ConstrainedTupleValueModel
ConstrainedObjectModel "1 ... n" *-- ConstrainedObjectPropertyModel
ConstrainedUnionModel "1 ... n" *-- "1 ... n" ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedEnumModel o-- ConstrainedEnumValueModel
ConstrainedTupleModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedObjectModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedArrayModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedUnionModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedEnumModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedBooleanModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedIntegerModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedStringModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedFloatModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedAnyModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedReferencedModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedDictionaryModel --|> ConstrainedMetaModel
ConstrainedMetaModel --|> MetaModel