Model-driven engineering ecosystems

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) comprises the practice of systematically using models during software development. The high diversity of MDE assets (e.g., metamodels, models, model transformation engines, and design tools) has raised a rich, diverse, and complex software ecosystem (SECO), where a collection of assets is governed by underlying rules and surrounded by a community of players. The lack of a deeper understanding on those relations has: (i) hampered the adoption of such paradigm by newcomers; (ii) increased the learning curve; (iii) prevented the community from exploiting their full potential; and (iv) inhibited the more essential benefits promoted by MDE, such as automation, reuse, productivity, maintainability, and time to market. In this context, this paper presents preliminary results of an investigation on MDE as a SECO. We compiled existing knowledge from literature joining independent research findings to provide an exploratory characterization of the technical dimension of such ecosystem. We also identified research gaps that motivate further investigation considering the relevance and potential of this topic for the forthcoming years.