Bad news first. For building executable UML models they use Action Specification Language (ASL). ASL is not a part of UML standards. Not so bad news - "Action Semantics for the UML" (OMG ad/01-08-04) imposed as an "unofficial OMG standard". Not by me, but by Anneke Kleppe, if you know, who is this person. And the "Action Semantics ..." is based on the ASL.
Currently ASL is not widely supported by popular UML tools (hah! how many of them really support OCL?). But the lite version of iUML CASE tool comes with the book. I don't want to discuss is this tool good, or is not. At least it gives you the ability to feel the concepts, not only read about them.
In any case, for building truly executable models, you need some kind of action language. And OCL is not that kind of a language. If you think Java is portable enough for PIMs development - use it. The authors did not recommend it, but they did not prohibit it also. You may use ASL, C++, Java, production rules, your own action language, etc. It's up to you.
If you know nothing about MDA and executable UML - don't worry. This book could be used as a start also.
When I sent this feedback, there was no ability to search inside the book. So, let me describe it. This book:
- gives some review of OO methods genesis
- gives an introduction to MDA and executable UML concept, including the difference between a method and a notation
- shows how to fit the method into the development processes
- shows how to gather the requirements with use cases
- shows how the method uses other kinds of UML diagrams to achieve the goal to make them executable, not just a pictures
- exlpains why some of UML diagram types are not used by the method at all, and brings only one extension to UML (state transition tables)
- describes how to build both state-independent and state-dependend behaviour models using UML and ASL
- describes how to integrate different PIMs
- describes how to generate code from models
- contains samples
What could I say. Maybe you have an opportunity to meet the standard of the future. Maybe not. But this book is not just a iUML or ASL tutorial. This is a good book. It was written by real professionals, followers by Shlaer & Mellor school. It's full of useful ideas. Strong, but not boring. Must have.