A New Framework for Classifying Information Systems Modelling Languages

The comparative survey shows that there are many Domain Specific Languages (DSMLs) adopted in various Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) approaches for information systems engineering. Choosing the appropriate DSML depends on the type of the target information system (IS), as well as the technical and modelling skills of the developing team. Adopting the right DSML is considered a difficult issue for casual designers, domain experts with limited modelling skills. Therefore, introducing a simplified DSML that describes IS in a higher-level of abstraction way than existing DSML approaches supports business users to contribute more in the development process. In this work, a classification framework is introduced to categorise thirteen DSMLs, based on the target type of IS, into four major categories, namely, (1) DSMLs for n-tier web application development, (2) DSMLs for cloud-based applications development, (3) DSMLs for mobile-based applications development and (4) DSMLs for tier-specific enterprise applications development. Feature modelling technique was adopted to compare and categorise modelling languages. Sharing a common similarity are clustered together into higher-level categories in the hierarchy as the main characteristics from different modelling languages. At the end, the resulting framework is documented using a multiple-level feature diagram to support domain expert decisions of choosing a DSML that suits their needs; And provide common DSML features to be adopted in constructing a simplified DSML that supports Lightweight MDE development.