Model Driven Architecture (MDA) - Advantages and MDA Process

The MDA is a new way of writing specifications, based on a platform-independent
model.

Why should we use Model Driven Architecture

- Portability
- Interoperability
- Domain facilities provide much wider interoperability.
- MDA allows to model the functionality and behavior only once, therefore saves a lot of time.
- Requirements are always changing.
- New technology is arising.
- Require to integrate old system with new system, and any other system in future.
- MDA makes it easier to integrate applications and facilities across middle-ware boundaries.

Model Driven Architecture Process

THE BASIC PROCESS
- To construct a MDA application, the first step is to create a computation independent model(CIM) by a business analyst.
- The CIM is transformed into platform independent model(PIM) by enterprise architect.
- The resulting PIM has to be targeted to a platform to complete the build process.
- The transformation of a PIM to a PSM will be done by a platform specialist.

THE COMPLEX PROCESS
The process from computation independent model to platform specific model can be a bit more complex.
- Between the models, there can be some gaps present which makes transformation difficult.
- As a result, you can have interrelated models having different layers of abstraction.
- One consequence is that a single layer of abstraction can have horizontal transformations. Consider the example where a PIM is converted multiple times into more detailed PIMs. And there are vertical transformations in addition to vertical transformation of models.

Model Driven Architecture (MDA) - Characteristics and Viewpoints

OMG was formed as a standards organization to help reduce complexity, lower costs, and hasten the introduction of new software applications.
- The Object Management Group (OMG) adopted the Model Driven Architecture as an approach for using models in software development.
- Its three primary goals are portability, interoperability and reusability through architectural separation of concerns.

Characteristics of Model Driven Architecture(MDA)

- MDA enables development of new specifications.
- MDA provides a comprehensive, structured solution for application interoperability and portability into the future.
- MDA consists of services specified by OMG. It also includes directory services, event handling, persistence, transactions, and security.
- MDA enables the creation of standardized domain models for some vertical industries.
- MDA separates the operation of the system from the way it uses its capabilities of its platform.
- MDA enables converting platform-independent models to produce platform-specific models using mappings.

What are different viewpoints of Model Driven Architecture

- The first viewpoint is called Computation Independent Viewpoint which focuses on environment and requirements of the system rather than the details of system's structure and processing.
- The second viewpoint is called Platform Independent Viewpoint which focuses on how the system operates. It hides the details necessary for a particular platform. The part of complete specification does not change when the platform changes.
- The third viewpoint is called Platform Specific Viewpoint which focus on the detail of the use of a specific platform in addition to platform independent viewpoint.