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In a department of a leading German automotive supplier, model-based software development is now being implemented to its fullest. This trend-setting move away from a traditional, document-centered method was only made possible by the use of LieberLieber LemonTree.

Vienna – Especially for automotive industry leaders and suppliers, improvements in software and system development are increasingly becoming the focus of strategic considerations. In this context, a department of a leading German automotive supplier took a courageous, forward-looking step. This is where the common document-centric development of software is now being replaced by a completely model-based approach. “Our goal is to make the model the core of our specification. But we also want to work with the models as comfortably as with code in agile software development. In addition, we developed our own method in a project with the Technical University of Munich that can be used in the models,” says the project manager, outlining the demanding specifications.

First the vision, then the implementation
Visions always bring with them new challenges. On the one hand, tools had to be identified that allowed the implementation of the developed method. On the other hand, these had to meet the requirements of configuration management defined in ISO 26262. Finally, it was essential that they could become part of an integrated modeling environment.

The aim of the joint project is to make Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect an integral part of the future modeling environment. This requires the fulfillment of all these aspects. Dr. Konrad Wieland, CEO of LieberLieber Software: “We are very proud to have been chosen to implement this challenging vision. Once again, we were able to show that a complete transition to the model-based method is possible with us. This task requires a lot of know-how both for the methodology as well as for handling the tools. Step by step, we worked out the conversion together so that there is now an excellent basis for future development work.”

Enterprise Architect and LemonTree
“The growing complexity of our products and the good reusability of already created models brought us onto the path of model-based development. We are a small pioneer group here with around 25 employees who wanted to test the switch. The plans for a further rollout of our approach, developed with the help of LieberLieber, are now ready,” explains the project manager.

Functioning configuration management for the models has emerged as a decisive aspect on the road to success. The goal: the automated and continuous integration of models, also known as “Continuous Integration”. It was decided to transfer the established methodologies from the area of software development over to the modeling world. Changes to the model are to be integrated into a baseline on an ongoing basis, but, unlike in the past, with precise control according to the specified process. Each change is commissioned via a ticket system and then goes through several steps:

• Specification
• Execution in a versioning system
• Review
• Release
• Automatic integration into the productive model by a build server

Implementation of the modelling methodology
At the same time, the implementation of the modeling methodology in the tool was tackled. To this end, Enterprise Architect was adapted to the desired working methods of the developers with the help of “LieberLieber Software Assistants”. This is the only way for all users to work with the extensive modeling platform in a focused and comfortable manner. Thus, the SPES_XT method developed with the Technical University of Munich was permanently integrated into the tool. “If the tool does not ‘understand’ the desired method, the work becomes unnecessarily complicated. The Software Assistants developed by us allow for a smooth integration of the methodology into Enterprise Architect. This helps the developers to implement the methodological specifications cleanly and to orient themselves quickly in the model. Overall, this increases the efficiency of the modeling work,” explains Wieland.

LemonTree connects two worlds
The transfer of the established software development processes with version control into the modeling world is completely new and was realized with LemonTree. Now, both version and change management for models (as development-relevant artifacts) are possible. At the same time, all changes in the model are traceable and repeatable. In addition, a number of integration tasks had to be performed to automate the process steps involved – for example with the versioning and ticket system, the review tools, the build server, etc. The integration of the new model into the existing model was also possible.

Automated integration of modified model variants
A particularly challenging task in the collaboration with the automotive supplier was the automatic transfer of the modified model versions to the central model each time a modeler checks in (Build Management – Continuous Integration of Models). The company uses a build server that automatically transfers the changes ordered, carried out and released via ticket into the productive model on a regular basis. Whereas manual merging of the changes in LemonTree was previously required, this is now also integrated into the automated process. “We therefore had to create a new edition of LemonTree that could handle such tasks without any user intervention, thus helping to further automate and accelerate the processes. This was a major step towards integrating modeling tools into the overall development process,” said Wieland.

Great challenges, forward-looking solutions
The implementation of the forward-looking vision was naturally associated with major challenges for both sides. For example, the client had to integrate additional tools into a continuous process chain. “In LieberLieber, we found a partner who can provide us with outstanding support both in terms of methods and tool development. It was clear to us that in order to implement our vision we would have to work together on a long-term basis in order to implement the individual steps in a professional and future-proof manner. We are very proud that our plan could be realized and that we now have this extremely useful knowledge ready for use in the company,” summarizes the project manager. He also admits that this project was only a first step.

One big challenge still remains: the integration of the modelling tools with each other leaves a lot of room for optimization. The use of automatic code generation in model-based development in the embedded environment also offers a broad and in-depth field of activity. In any case, a first, big step has been taken and now others can build on it.

Functional safety standards such as ISO 26262 also require configuration and change management in models. LemonTree is used for this purpose in the software development of a leading German automotive supplier. The tool’s user-friendly features make the work of the developers much easier while reducing the rate of error.

Vienna – Especially in the automotive industry, verifiable compliance with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262 is essential. This means that manufacturers and suppliers are also obliged to perform configuration and change management in their models. “For us, various safety standards such as Automotive SPICE and compliance with the ‘Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL)’ are decisive for software development. Since the Enterprise Architect modeling platform has been used successfully in the Software Architecture department for some time, we were convinced of the usefulness of model-based software development. However, it is only through the contact with LieberLieber and the use of LemonTree that our daily work with modeling is now considerably easier and faster,” says the employee of a leading German automotive supplier who is involved in the creation of safety-critical software in the functional software department. While Enterprise Architect has been in use in the company for a long time in the area of systems architecture, the platform is now increasingly finding its way into software development with the expansion by LemonTree. For this it was necessary, however, that LemonTree supports the company’s own modelling language and also enables markups with defined safety levels.

All changes easily confirmed
In order to be able to prove compliance with all legal requirements even when changes are made to the software, reviews are particularly important for the working group at the automotive supplier. The work results of the software development are checked manually in order to ensure the required quality. “Every change in our model – also known as a change request – must be subjected to a review. LemonTree offers excellent opportunities for this, which greatly accelerate our work,” says the employee. Whereas previously only small changes could be reviewed between two model versions, LemonTree extends the possibilities to more complex models and supports the work with many useful features. Dr. Konrad Wieland is responsible for LemonTree at LieberLieber: “This is a typical use case for LemonTree because change management combined with the review of models is mandatory for all companies that create software in the field of functional safety. We are pleased that, thanks to great demand, we can continue to expand the benefits of LemonTree for this scenario”.

Only the essentials are visible
The development team at the automotive supplier also wants to be able to concentrate on the essentials in their daily work. For the process of reviewing all of the changed elements in the model, LieberLieber has installed special filters that guide the user through the process with suggestions. During the review, elements that have already been tested by several persons can also be specially marked in order to avoid unnecessary double testing. “Thanks to the adjustments made by LieberLieber, LemonTree now supports us very individually in the review processes defined by us. Practical simplifications such as the clear highlighting of changes in diagrams or the possibility of simply dragging windows larger for better visibility make the tool practically indispensable in the meantime,” emphasizes the employee. The new quality of work will now be presented and discussed at a cross-departmental review meeting to pave the way for broader application within the company.

Petwalk, the Austrian specialist for automatic dog and cat doors, is on an expansion course. In order to meet the strict safety regulations required for access to the American market, the company sought the support of LieberLieber. Together, they are now developing a model-based solution that demonstrably meets all safety regulations.

Wien/Ternitz – Petwalk Solutions, founded in 2010 as a result of a research project in Ternitz, Lower Austria, specializes in next-generation automatic doors for cats and dogs. And, since pet owners care a great deal about the well-being of their four-legged friends, safety-critical aspects play a major role in Petwalk’s door development process for which proven standards from the automotive industry are being used as criteria for development and testing. Klaus Kindl, founder and managing director: “Our doors are subject to demanding security requirements similar to those that apply, for example, to passenger elevators. We must comply with requirements for both the electronic and mechanical components. We are very export-oriented and already deliver to more than 30 countries worldwide; however, in order to be able to export to more complex legal markets such as the USA, we had to start a re-engineering project.” The need for a model-based approach soon became apparent, which naturally led to contact with LieberLieber. Daniel Siegl, Managing Director of LieberLieber: “Following my presentation at the Austrian Software Industry Association (VÖSI), the project’s objectives soon crystallized during our conversation. Petwalk’s use case makes it particularly important to formally demonstrate compliance with the legal requirements on its software. Model-based development is ideal for this.”

Models document the fulfilment of legal requirements
One big advantage of model-based software and systems development is the fact that compliance with legal requirements can be proven automatically in the model. Since traceability is nowadays mandatory in more and more industries and countries, the use of models is likewise growing in prevalence. Markus Hammer is Managing Director of CertaBit Engineering and fills the role of CTO at Petwalk: “As I have worked with Enterprise Architect in the automotive sector before, I was familiar with the strengths and challenges of this modeling platform. Looking for enhancements I came across LieberLieber’s LemonTree and Embedded Engineer, two powerful solutions that extend the capabilities of Enterprise Architect.” After initial tests and training, Hammer was quickly convinced of the quality of the LieberLieber extensions. “Embedded Engineer allows us to debug directly in the model. We were able to bring the firmware of our hardware suppliers in-house and we now get much faster, error-free and clearly structured code.” Over the course of development the team was confronted with the challenge of versioning and how development cooperation should work. “The ability to block other users had not been implemented into Petwalk’s workflow as we would have liked. LemonTree provides us with an optimal solution that supports us in all versioning issues that occur in a team environment,” explains Hammer. Ultimately, the simultaneous use of Embedded Engineer and LemonTree provides excellent conditions for upcoming development challenges.

Now, connecting the old and the new is no problem.
Because the Petwalk door’s electronics run on embedded Linux and Windows Embedded, the development team decided to clearly separate old and new functions and connect them via an interface. In this way, existing functions can be easily retained while the new ones can be created right away in the modeling tool. LieberLieber’s approach is very pragmatic: You can continue to use existing software and still switch to a model-based approach when it makes sense. This makes it much easier for us to decide on the fly whether or not to take this step. This also allow us to intensify our cooperation with LieberLieber on an ongoing basis, trying out new things over and over again,” says Kindl. Petwalk intends to kick off the year 2018 with a splash in the US market: The first prototypes from the re-engineering project are to be presented in January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Building on healthy demand, LieberLieber LemonTree is now poised to conquer the Japanese market with the support of a key local partner. Meanwhile, the latest Release 1.3 brings even more improvements in speed and stability. LieberLieber’s product improvement and internationalization once again go hand-in-hand to further strengthen sales success.

Vienna, May 16^th, 2017 – The industry’s interest in LieberLieber LemonTree, the revolutionary diff & merge tool for model-based development projects, continues to grow. Among the most well-known customers are Bosch, Deutsche Bahn, Hima, Infineon, McLaren, Mitsubishi Electric, Schaeffler, Toll Collect, Valeo and ZF Friedrichshafen, to name a few. This success has drawn great interest from partners who can now appease their customers’ appetite for the huge time savings and added security that LemonTree brings to the table – now on the menu under “fresh model versioning” at Sparx Systems Japan. “Enterprise Architect is very well-known in Japanese industry. We have seen a continual increase in requests for a convenient solution to merge the different versions that result when developers work in teams on the same UML/SysML models. Our excellent relationship with LieberLieber has existed for some time, and we were able to test LemonTree in detail. We quickly made the decision to serve LemonTree to the Japanese market, which we are confident is the best model versioning solution to meet the needs of agile-minded customers as they continue to grow with their model-based software development,” explains Takeshi Kouno of Sparx Systems Japan. In addition to its offices in Europe and the USA, this partner agreement with Sparx Systems Japan represents another logical step toward the truly international, customer-oriented marketing and distribution of LemonTree.

LemonTree 1.3 with optimized performance
Given the close cooperation with customers, LieberLieber is able to quickly learn which improvements are especially relevant and in demand. The same applies to improvements in LemonTree 1.3, whereby feedback was extensively evaluated and prioritized, and subsequent upgrades realized. “Among our promises to the customer is that we strive to continually make improvements to LemonTree according to current requirements. Since we are always working on customer projects, we quickly find out what the market expects of us. These requirements flow into release planning and are part of the ongoing refinement process,” explains Dr. Konrad Wieland, Product Manager at LieberLieber. In the latest release, all relevant improvements were carried out in addition to performance and stability optimizations (see box). The result is active support for LemonTree customers in creating correct, valid models, which is decisive when it comes to generating code from the model. All of this does justice to LieberLieber’s goal of making model-based development even easier while improving the quality of the resulting models.

LemonTree 1.3, the latest release, is now available. We would be happy to arrange a call or online conference to allow you learn more about LemonTree and its areas of application. We can help your team to efficiently merge their models and thereby greatly reduce the time needed to complete important projects.

After many years of supporting a number of organizations in handling their model versioning challenges, LieberLieber has now released its new model-based versioning tool as a standard solution. LemonTree is a combination of scientific and practical excellence, filling a long-standing need in the marketplace.

Vienna, September 20th, 2016 – When it comes to the model-based development of software and systems, traditional versioning systems are usually seen as the answer when handling the task of diffing and merging. Such versioning tools, however, often fail to meet requirements. In late 2015, LieberLieber presented its Model Versioner for Enterprise Architect as a product capable of facilitating the 3-way diffing & merging of models and, for the first time ever, guaranteeing precision in the handling of model versioning. After undergoing a number of user-driven improvements, the new tool generation – now rebranded “LemonTree” – is enjoying broad market acceptance. Daniel Siegl, CEO at LieberLieber: “These days, organizations are promoting an ever-stronger link between science and its practical application. LemonTree is the perfect example, illustrated by our friendly, ‘fresh’ marketing strategy. Complex software solutions don’t have to be dull and incomprehensible; wherever possible, users should be made aware of the refreshing ways in which their day-to-day tasks can be made easier and more enjoyable.”

Fresh Model Versioning
Dr. Konrad Wieland laid the tool’s scientific groundwork years ago in his doctoral thesis. He is now responsible for Product Management & Marketing at LieberLieber. LemonTree’s name as well as its marketing slogan, “Fresh Model Versioning,” clearly symbolize the tool’s usefulness while conveying how the diffing and merging of various model versions – which has up to now been a time-consuming, even nerve-wracking task – can now be intelligently, intuitively managed. This was achieved by investing a great deal of know-how and practical experience in the development phase: “I focused heavily on this topic through 2011 while working on my doctoral thesis at TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) on conflict-tolerant model versioning. I was then able to practically apply of my scientific findings at LieberLieber and provide a totally new, revolutionary approach to solving the problem of 3-way model diffing and merging,” says Wieland. “Our task at LieberLieber is now to encourage users of Enterprise Architect to let this collected know-how work for them and their models by utilizing LemonTree to its fullest.”

Enthusiastic pilot customers
Customer implementations intensified over the past several months and clearly showed how important the advantages of LemonTree are to their daily routine. Growing complexity and ever-tighter release cycles affecting modern embedded systems have necessitated a state of development of different versions of the same software in parallel. Added to this is the growing challenge of managing development in bigger, more distributed teams, as teams using model-based development must have the option of efficiently working in parallel and carrying out their versioning processes directly on the model level. Furthermore, adhering to standards and regulations is another important argument for the implementaiton of LemonTree. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Stefan Müller, HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH, Safety-related automation solutions: “In general, standards like IEC 61508 require the existence of configuration management. This applies to all elements, including the UML models. LemonTree from LieberLieber is our key to being able to determine what has been changed in each revision.”
Encouraged by keen market interest, the decision was made by LieberLieber to give LemonTree a fresh new name before embarking on a clear roadmap: “We built the most important market-tested model versioning features into the first version of LemonTree. At the same time, we will contine to collect feeback from our community and allow the product to grow according to what we have learned from actual implementation cases,” says Wieland.

Product for a growing market
LemonTree is a new tool for a growing market, as more and more companies ramp up their model-based software development. One example is Mitsubishi Electric, where the benefits of LemonTree were quickly realized. “Classic version control systems can’t adequately support cooperation among geographically-distributed teams of model-based software engineers working in tandem, nor can they offer security when it comes to implementing standards. For these reasons, and given its high performance, user-friendly display of model edits and reliable model validation, the time is right for LemonTree. We think LemonTree more than lives up to its motto of ‘Fresh Model Versioning’,” concluded Wieland.

Just in time for embedded world 2017: LieberLieber introduces the new version 1.2 of LemonTree, optimized for collaboration with version management systems. This update provides for improvements in performance and the diffing & merging of model versions.

A variety of systems exist to manage different versions of code that emerge throughout the software development process. These tools archive the source texts with a time stamp and a user ID to ensure that the changes in the software remain traceable. Model-based software and systems development also makes use of such version management systems; alas, commonly-used tools do not adequately support the more complex data structures. The goal of LieberLieber LemonTree, the revolutionary tool presented in autumn 2016 for the diffing & merging of different model versions, is to leverage this interplay with version management systems. Therefore, for this new release the LieberLieber development team gave special attention to the optimized handling of popular version management systems. “LemonTree can now be very easily implemented to support teams working with common version management systems. LemonTree also now seamlessly integrates with the popular Git open source system, making version control even more efficient,” explains Dr. Konrad Wieland, Product Manager at LieberLieber.

LemonTree automatically validates models
In addition to the improved handling of version management, LemonTree now includes automatic model validation. “In practice, we often encounter accuracy issues stemming from the model development process. This is why we have enabled LemonTree to recognize errors in models and, for the most part, to correct them automatically,” explains Wieland. This provides users with active support in achieving much greater accuracy in their modeling projects. This is crucial when the time comes to automatically generate code from these models; furthermore, these improvements – clearly in line with LieberLieber’s company mission – save a great deal of development time and effort while raising the quality of models overall.

Great demand for LemonTree
The recently-held “Enterprise Architect Best Practice Days“ event, a joint effort by SparxSystems Central Europe and LieberLieber, was booked out with 120 participants interested in learning more about LemonTree. Dr. Wieland took the stage with two presentations, highlighting two key pains that can be significantly alleviated by the application of LemonTree; namely, the quality of work results emanating from distributed modeling teams and increased assurance in regards to adherence to standards. Indeed, when it comes to Functional Safety Management (FSM) based on standards like ISO 26262 or IEC 61508, the use of systems like LemonTree is a requirement. “Our innovative 3-way diff & merge for precise versioning addresses a growing number of requirements organizations find themselves having to fulfill. Some companies have been searching for a tool like LemonTree for months, and are nothing short of relieved to have finally found the very solution they’ve been looking for,” concludes Wieland