The next enterprise computing era will rely on the synergy between both technologies: semantic web and model-driven software development (MDSD). The semantic web organizes system knowledge in conceptual domains according to its meaning. It addresses various enterprise computing needs by identifying, abstracting and rationalizing commonalities, and checking for inconsistencies across system specifications. On the other side, model-driven software development is closing the gap among business requirements, designs and executables by using domain-specific languages with custom-built syntax and semantics. It focuses on using modeling languages as programming languages.
Among many areas of application, we highlight the area of configuration management. Consider the example of a telecommunication company, where managing the multiple configurations of network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.) is crucial. Enterprise systems identify and document the functional and physical characteristics of network devices, and control changes to those characteristics. Applying the integration of semantic web and model-driven software development allows for
(1) explicitly specifying configurations of network devices with tailor-made languages,
(2) for checking the consistency of these specifications
(3) for defining a vocabulary to share device specifications across enterprise systems. By managing configurations with consistent and explicit concepts, we reduce cost and risk, and enhance agility in response to new requirements in the telecommunication area.
This book examines the synergy between semantic web and model-driven software development. It brings together advances from disciplines like ontologies, description logics, domain-specific modeling, model transformation and ontology engineering to take enterprise computing to the next level.
Integrates two powerful software approaches to dramatically enhance enterprise computing
Based on the author's own course materials, this book takes enterprise computing to the next level by offering readers a tested and proven method for applying semantic web tools to model-driven software engineering. It integrates and takes advantage of the latest advances from such disciplines as ontologies, description logics, domain-specific modeling, model transformation, and ontology engineering.
Before advancing to practical applications, Semantic Web and Model-Driven Engineering lays a foundation of fundamental concepts:
- Part I, Fundamentals, explains the concepts and technologies underlying model-driven engineering and ontologies, explaining the common bonds and the differences between these two paradigms.
- Part II, The TwoUse Approach, describes the TwoUse Toolkit, which is used to implement a software development approach that integrates model-driven software engineering and ontology technologies.
- Part III, Applications in Model-Driven Engineering, features case studies that apply the TwoUse Toolkit to support software design patterns, ontology-based information systems, and the integration of software languages.
- Part IV, Applications in the Semantic Web, demonstrates and analyzes the author's integrated approach to ontology engineering.
Throughout the text, tables summarize important data. In addition, detailed figures simplify complex programming and software engineering concepts and processes.
Semantic Web and Model-Driven Engineering is ideal for all software engineers and students, giving them a new set of tools to dramatically enhance enterprise computing by lowering costs, raising productivity, and improving the quality of knowledge management, systems interoperability, and applications integration.
