Verification and validation in the context of domain-specific modelling

Abstract

The utilisation of Domain-Specific Modelling (DSM) in software development has a significant positive impact on productivity. The productivity increase is caused by the utilisation of modelling languages and generators that are especially suitable for a specific problem domain instead of those designed for solution domains. The prerequisite for this significant productivity increase is that the languages and the automation function correctly. To ensure the suitability of the languages and tools, we need to be able to use the verification and validation (V&V) techniques in the context of DSM. In this position paper we study what V&V actually stands for in this particular context and what the current means are for performing V&V. We found that although there are some means available for verification, comprehensive methods still do not exist. For validation, we believe that maintaining a bidirectional trace link between requirements, models and the generated deliverables is a promising approach to significantly facilitate the validation process.