Constructing domain-specific design tools with a visual language meta-tool

Collaborative, visual design tools are typically difficult to build and evolve. We describe a meta tool for specification and generation of multiple view, multiple user visual design tools. The tool permits rapid specification of visual notational elements, underlying tool information model requirements, visual editors, the relationship between notational and model elements, and behavioural components. Tools are generated on the fly and can be used for modelling immediately. Changes to the meta tool specification are immediately reflected in any tool instances.