Understanding key transformations in model-driven development

软件开发是一个非常复杂的过程，需要大量的软件开发本身和应用领域的知识和技能，研究人员长期以来一直试图管理这个过程的复杂性。早期的策略之一--最近被OMG的模型驱动架构修复--认为开发过程可能是一个很长的劳动密集型、但可自动化的转换序列，从软件的规范开始，以产生一个工作版本。该研究计划的长期目标是在转换的、模型驱动的方法的框架内更好地理解软件开发过程。更具体地说，我们感兴趣的是探索两个转变，这两个转变体现了一个不平凡的焦点转移：1)从过程模型到信息系统模型的转变，以及2)从分析到设计的转变。通过自动化从流程模型到分析模型的转换，我们改善了软件的业务用户与其开发人员之间的沟通，并确保开发人员开发业务用户所需的内容。通过自动化从分析到设计的过渡，我们将设计师和开发人员从设计中涉及的乏味和容易出错的任务中解放出来，让他们专注于创造和智力挑战的任务，在这些任务中，他们增加了最大的价值。通过自动化这两个转换，我们使业务用户能够通过指定或“绘制”他们希望通过信息系统支持的业务流程来开发自己的应用程序。

Software development is a very complex process that requires vast amounts of knowledge and skills both in software development itself and in the application domain, and researchers have long been trying to manage the complexity of the process. One of the earlier strategies - recently rehabilitated by OMG's Model-Driven Architecture- viewed the development process as a possibly long sequence of labour intensive, but automatable transformations that start with a specification of the software to produce a working version. The long-term goal of this research program is to develop a better understanding of the software development process within the framework of a transformational, model-driven approach. More specifically, we are interested in exploring two transformations that embody a non-trivial shift in focus: 1) the transition from process models to information system models, and 2) the transition from analysis to design. By automating the transition from process models to analysis models, we improve communication between the business users of software, and its developers, and we ensure that developers develop what the business users need. By automating the transition from analysis to design, we relieve designers and developers from the tedious and error-prone tasks involved in designs, and let them focus on the creative and intellectually challenging tasks where they add the most value. By automating both transitions, we empower business users to develop their own applications by specifying or "drawing" the business process they wish to support with the information system.