Searching models, modeling search: On the synergies of SBSE and MDE

In the past years, several researchers applied search-based optimization algorithms successfully in the software engineering domain to obtain automatically near-optimal solutions to complex problems posing huge solution spaces. More recently, such algorithms have also been proven useful for solving problems in model engineering. However, applying search-based optimization algorithms to problems in model engineering efficiently and effectively is a challenging endeavor demanding for expertize in both, search-based algorithms as well as model engineering formalisms and techniques. In this paper, we report on our experiences in applying such search-based algorithms for model engineering problems and propose a model-driven approach to ease the adoption of search-based algorithms for the area of model engineering.