Continuous Transition from Model-Driven Prototype to Full-Size Real-World Enterprise Information Systems

Journal of the Association for Information Systems

Abstract

In recent years generators have gained more and more impact on current software development methods and help to rapidly create complex software. Nevertheless, developers still must ensure consistency among used models and cannot easily edit or extend the generated code. This paper presents our approach which can be used to create an executable prototype of an Enterprise Information System based only on a data structure model. This prototype, which is still easily adaptable and extendable, can be used for analysis exploration and build a solid foundation for the final system. The presented approach transforms a data structure model to changeable and extendable graphical user interface models. These are defined using a domain-specific language named GuiDSL. In a second step, the data structure model and the GUI models are used to generate the resulting system. This approach allows the developer to generate (a) persistence, (b) basic application logic, (c) transportation layers, and (d) a variety of possible graphical representations (represented as GUI models) for the prototype-based only on a data structure model. Extensions and changes of the GUI are still possible on model and code level. This is possible by synthetization of GUI models and change operations defined in the same domain-specific language. This paper presents our approach and highlights its potential and current limitations.

Authors 5

1. Arkadii Gerasimov Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Judith Michael Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Lukas Netz Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Bernhard Rumpe⋆ Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Simon Varga Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany