MDA Distilled: Principles of Model-Driven Architecture

Model Elaboration

Model elaboration is the idea that a model can be modified after it has been generated. Usually, this means adding code to the model, but it can also mean editing the generated model itself. This possibility of elaboration of target models is an advantage of the MDA framework because it allows developers to ease into model-driven development, rather than take a step function from a code-driven process to a model-driven one.

To get the most out of model elaboration, it's important to follow certain principles:

• Don't elaborate a model if you don't have to.

• Don't elaborate “intermediate” models that aren't meant to be exposed.

• Localize elaboration and avoid redundancy in elaborating locations.

If it's done carefully, then, elaborating ...