Search-Based Model-Driven Engineering

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is a software engineering approach that treats models as the primary development artefacts. Models are manipulated, using model management operations (MMO), in order to perform engineering tasks such as comparison, validation, and code generation. We propose that many of the challenges faced in MDE could be addressed using Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE) techniques: the two approaches, MDE and SBSE, are natural partners. However, a significant barrier preventing widespread application of SBSE to MDE is a suitable representation of MDE models that is amenable to metaheuristic search algorithms while also applicable across a wide range of MDE problem domains. This paper presents such a representation and describes an implementation using a widely used MDE toolset. We illustrate the utility of the representation by applying it to the white-box analysis of three MMOs. Furthermore, we discuss other areas of MDE which could benefit from the application of SBSE techniques, and highlight research opportunities for combining the two fields.