MDE-Net: A UK Expert Network in Model-Driven Engineering

我们正面临着一个危机：在接下来的几年里，需要开发的软件数量远远超过了我们所能培养的训练有素的软件工程师所能处理的数量。到2020年，整个欧洲将缺少52.5万至75万名合格的IT专业人员。模型驱动软件工程（MDE）使具有领域知识但没有软件专业知识的专家能够利用软件工程师的工作，并成为他们使用的软件创建的积极贡献者。在MDE中，软件不是用c++之类的通用编程语言（GPL）开发的，而是使用定制的、特定于领域的语言（dsl）开发的，这些语言是根据领域专家的需求开发的。这样的DSL使用领域专家熟悉的术语和语法，但是由编译、分析和解释基础设施支持，这些基础设施允许计算机自动评估DSL中的语句，类似于用gpl编写的软件。这使得关注点分离成为可能：领域专家可以贡献他们的专业知识并做出与领域相关的决策（例如，关于计算设备购买税的具体规则应该是什么），而不必考虑高效计算的技术含义。同时，软件开发人员可以专注于为特定领域提供对效率和可伸缩性的支持，而不必担心特定领域问题的详细规范。英国在MDE研究方面具有相当的实力。然而，对实践的渗透仍然缓慢，个体实验室以外的人也不容易接触到MDE研究。造成这种情况的原因在于，MDE带来的机会缺乏可见性，缺乏易于获取和查找的培训材料，以及缺乏围绕MDE组织良好的社区。这也使得很难确定和追求该领域的新研究方向，特别是在学术界和工业界的合作中。MDE-Net将是英国第一个模型驱动软件工程网络。EPSRC网络是应对上述挑战的最佳方式：该网络将提供关于MDE的核心信息来源，包括成功案例、培训材料、定期更新的技术雷达，突出当前的研究和实践状态，以及英国MDE专家目录。该网络将成为MDE社区的焦点，使学术研究人员和工业从业者之间能够进行密切和持续的互动，并推动其他通常不会从软件工程角度考虑的学科（例如生物学、人工智能、机器人技术、数据科学、城市科学、地理或医学）的交叉受精。MDE-Net将由伦敦国王学院主办的一个团队领导，由斯蒂芬·扎勒博士（国王学院）和佩迪塔·史蒂文斯教授（爱丁堡大学）领导。工作将通过网络成员组成的3个工作组进行。WG1将通过定期的研讨会计划，将MDE的研究人员与来自行业和其他学科的相关利益相关者聚集在一起，重点推动MDE未来有影响力的研究。WG1还将管理一个支持种子-玉米项目的基金，以便建立新的研究合作。WG2将把重点放在培训和教育上，编排现有的和委托编写新的培训材料，提供定期的培训活动计划，并为课程开发做出贡献。最后，WG3将致力于围绕MDE建立一个更加连贯的社区，并提高MDE成功和机会的可见度。除了通过网络网站提供信息外，还将通过制作和定期更新MDE技术雷达以及举办MDE年度全国研讨会来实现这一目标。该网络的目标是在供资期结束时实现自给自足。

We are facing a crisis: over the coming years, substantially more software needs to be developed than can be handled by the number of trained software engineers we can produce. Across Europe, we lack between 525,000 and 750,000 qualified IT professionals by 2020. Model-driven software engineering (MDE) enables experts with domain knowledge but without software expertise to leverage the work of software engineers and become active contributors to the creation of the software they use. In MDE, software is developed not in general-purpose programming languages (GPL) like C++, but using bespoke, domain-specific languages (DSLs) that are developed with domain experts' needs in mind. Such DSLs use terminology and syntax that is familiar to domain experts, but are underpinned by compilation, analysis, and interpretation infrastructure that allows statements in a DSL to be automatically evaluated by a computer, similar to software written in a GPLs. This enables separation of concerns: domain experts can contribute their expertise and make domain-relevant decisions (for example, about what the specific rule should be for computing tax on equipment purchases) without having to consider the technical implications of efficient computation. At the same time, software developers can focus on providing support for efficiency and scalability for a particular domain without having to worry about the detailed specification of specific domain problems.The UK has a substantial strength in MDE research. However, penetration into practice is still slow and MDE research is not easily accessible to those outside of individual labs. The reasons for this situation can be found in a lack of visibility of opportunities enabled by MDE, a lack of easily accessible and easy to find training materials, and a lack of a well-organised community around MDE. This also makes it difficult to identify and pursue new research directions in the field, especially in collaboration between academia and industry.MDE-Net will be the first UK network on model-driven software engineering. An EPSRC network is the best way to address the challenges described above: the network will provide a central source of information about MDE, including success stories, training materials, a regularly updated technology radar highlighting the current state of research and practice, and a catalogue of UK experts in MDE. The network will become the focal point of the MDE community, enabling close and continuous interaction between academic researchers and industrial practitioners as well as driving cross-fertilisation into other disciplines that are not typically considered from a software engineering perspective (e.g., biology, artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, urban sciences, geography, or medicine).MDE-Net will be led by a team hosted at King's College London and led by Dr Steffen Zschaler (King's) and Prof Perdita Stevens (Edinburgh). Work will be undertaken through 3 working groups constituted from the network membership. WG1 will focus on driving impactful future research in MDE by bringing together researchers in MDE with relevant stakeholders from industry and other disciplines through a regular programme of workshops. WG1 will also manage a fund to support seed-corn projects so that new research collaborations can be built. WG2 will focus on training and education by curating existing and commissioning new training materials as well as offering a regular programme of training events and contributing to curriculum development. Finally, WG3 will work towards building a more coherent community around MDE and increasing the visibility of MDE successes and opportunities. Beyond making information available through the network website, this will be achieved by producing and regularly updating an MDE technology radar and running an annual national symposium on MDE. The network aims to achieve self-sufficiency by the end of the funding period.