Model-Driven Development of Complex Software: A Research Roadmap

TL;DR

This paper reviews current research in Model-Driven Engineering (MDE), discusses challenges in fully realizing its vision, and highlights how addressing these challenges can improve managing software complexity.

Contribution

It provides an overview of MDE research, identifies major challenges, and discusses the potential insights gained from pursuing the MDE vision.

Findings

Full realization of MDE may be hindered by complex wicked problems.

Attempting MDE can yield valuable insights into managing software complexity.

Progress in MDE can bridge the gap between software complexity and technological solutions.

Abstract

The term Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is typically used to describe software development approaches in which abstract models of software systems are created and systematically transformed to concrete implementations. In this paper we give an overview of current research in MDE and discuss some of the major challenges that must be tackled in order to realize the MDE vision of software development. We argue that full realizations of the MDE vision may not be possible in the near to medium-term primarily because of the wicked problems involved. On the other hand, attempting to realize the vision will provide insights that can be used to significantly reduce the gap between evolving software complexity and the technologies used to manage complexity.