Bridging IFML and Elm Applications via a Normalized Systems Expander

Jan Slifka, Robert Pergl

2025

Abstract

Web front-end applications are essential for delivering smooth user experiences across a multitude of platforms and devices. However, these applications often face difficulties maintaining long-term evolvability as user demands and stakeholder expectations continue to shift. In this paper, we propose using the Interaction Flow Modeling Language (IFML) to design applications and then generating source code in Elm, a statically typed, pure functional programming language tailored for web frontends. By applying Normalized Systems Theory, we aim to ensure long-lasting stability in two key ways: first, by defining how the resulting source code should align with the theory’s principles; second, by employing expanders to generate code and incorporating a harvesting mechanism that allows custom modifications to the generated source without losing the connection to the original model. We demonstrate the practical application of our approach by designing an application using IFML models, introducing custom code, and regenerating the application from an updated model while preserving those customizations. Our contribution is a novel methodology that integrates IFML, Elm, and Normalized Systems Theory to improve the stability and maintainability of web front-end applications.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Slifka J. and Pergl R. (2025). Bridging IFML and Elm Applications via a Normalized Systems Expander. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Software Technologies - Volume 1: ICSOFT; ISBN 978-989-758-757-3, SciTePress, pages 63-74. DOI: 10.5220/0013470800003964

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icsoft25,
author={Jan Slifka and Robert Pergl},
title={Bridging IFML and Elm Applications via a Normalized Systems Expander},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Software Technologies - Volume 1: ICSOFT},
year={2025},
pages={63-74},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013470800003964},
isbn={978-989-758-757-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Software Technologies - Volume 1: ICSOFT
TI - Bridging IFML and Elm Applications via a Normalized Systems Expander
SN - 978-989-758-757-3
AU - Slifka J.
AU - Pergl R.
PY - 2025
SP - 63
EP - 74
DO - 10.5220/0013470800003964
PB - SciTePress