A method is disclosed for use in a software development framework that has a repository and at least two software systems. The repository contains a meta-model and the software systems store instances of the meta-model. The method enables exchange of the instances of the meta-model among the software systems using a generalized data transfer language. The method comprises the steps of extracting a fixed component and a variable component of the metadata; parsing the variable component into constituent components; and, transforming each of the constituent components into corresponding components of a software language. The previous two steps are repeated for each instance of the variable component. Next, each instance of the variable component is transformed into corresponding components of the generalized software language. The fixed components are then transformed into corresponding components of the generalized software language. After this, the corresponding components are distributed among the software systems, where they are used as the format specification for the generalized data transfer language transport of the instances of the meta-model among the software systems.