Abstract

The major complexity in creating software systems lies in the understanding of the problem domain for which the software is developed. Models help analyzing the problem domain more effectively as they provide a higher level of abstraction by filtering out the low-level details. Model Driven Development is a methodology that advocates the use of models as the primary artifacts that drive the development of software instead of serving as informal sketches. In this thesis, we demonstrate the application of MDD to the development of a non-trivial software system using a state of the art tool: IBM's Rational Software Architect (RSA). We also investigate how MDD attempts to solve the problem of model-code synchronization through Round-Trip Engineering. With the help of this case study, we present the limitations and guidelines learned regarding the use of the state of the art for MDD, highlighting the difference between theory and practice.