A Multimodel for Integrating Quality Assessment in Model-Driven Engineering

The development of complex software systems following the Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) approach relies on the use of different models for describing the system (e.g., structure, behavior). These models should be specified first separately but then their inter-relationship must be established since they represent complementary aspects of the system. Besides, MDE development processes are mostly focused on functionality, and do not give proper support to the quality aspects of the system. In this paper, we present a generic multimodel and the process for its construction, allowing the representation of the different viewpoint models of a software system and the relationships among elements on these viewpoints. This multimodel is a means for integrating a quality viewpoint in MDE processes, allowing the quality attributes to become a decision factor in the choice among design decisions in transformation processes. The feasibility of this approach is illustrated through the use of the multimodel in a specific example for Software Product Line development.