Model-Driven Development
Model-Driven Development (MDD) is a software engineering approach that emphasizes creating abstract models of a system as the primary artifacts, from which code and other deliverables are automatically generated. It uses domain-specific modeling languages and tools to define system structure, behavior, and requirements at a high level of abstraction, reducing manual coding efforts. This methodology aims to improve productivity, maintainability, and consistency by separating business logic from implementation details.
Developers should use MDD for complex, large-scale systems where requirements are well-defined but implementation details vary, such as in enterprise software, embedded systems, or telecommunications. It is particularly valuable when rapid prototyping, platform independence, or compliance with strict standards (e.g., in aerospace or automotive industries) is required. By automating code generation, MDD reduces errors and accelerates development cycles, though it requires upfront investment in modeling and tooling.