Model Driven Development (MDD)

Model Driven Development (MDD) is a software development approach that focuses on the creation and manipulation of models, rather than the traditional code-centric approach. In MDD, models are used to represent the structure, behavior, and architecture of a software system. The primary goal of MDD is to improve productivity, maintainability, and reduce complexity by automating parts of the software development process, such as code generation, testing, and documentation.

Key Concepts of Model Driven Development

• Models: In MDD, models are the primary artifacts used to describe the software system. They are often represented using graphical notations, such as Unified Modeling Language (UML), or domain-specific languages (DSLs).

• Model transformation: The process of converting one model into another model, typically to generate code or other artifacts. Model transformations can be performed manually, or automated using tools that implement transformation rules.

• Code generation: MDD tools can automatically generate code based on the models. This code can be platform-specific or platform-independent, depending on the level of abstraction of the models.

• Abstraction: MDD encourages the use of higher levels of abstraction, allowing developers to focus on the essential aspects of the software system, rather than the implementation details.

• Separation of concerns: MDD promotes a clear separation between different aspects of the software system, such as business logic, user interface, and data persistence. This separation makes the development process more manageable and easier to maintain.

Advantages of Model Driven Development

• Increased productivity: MDD can automate parts of the development process, such as code generation and testing, which can lead to increased productivity.

• Improved maintainability: By using models to represent the software system, it becomes easier to understand, modify, and maintain the system.

• Enhanced communication: The use of graphical models can facilitate communication among team members and stakeholders, helping to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the system's requirements and design.

• Platform independence: MDD allows for the development of platform-independent models, making it easier to migrate the software system to different platforms or technologies.

Disadvantages of Model Driven Development

• Learning curve: MDD requires developers to learn new modeling languages and tools, which may initially slow down development.

• Tool dependence: The success of an MDD project may rely heavily on the quality of the tools used for modeling and code generation, which can be a risk if the tools are not well-maintained or supported.

• Limited flexibility: Code generated by MDD tools may not be as flexible or efficient as code written by experienced developers. This may require manual tweaking, which can negate some of the productivity gains from using MDD.

In conclusion, Model Driven Development is a software development approach that focuses on the use of models to represent the software system, with the aim of improving productivity, maintainability, and reducing complexity. While MDD has its advantages, it also has some drawbacks that need to be considered when deciding whether to adopt this approach for a particular project.

See Also

• IT Strategy (Information Technology Strategy)
• IT Governance
• Enterprise Architecture
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• IT Sourcing (Information Technology Sourcing)
• IT Operations (Information Technology Operations)
• E-Strategy