Model-Driven Software Development: Technology, Engineering, Management

Chapter 9

Code Generation Techniques

In keeping with the structure introduced in Chapter 1, we now want to address proven techniques that are the foundation for the selection or construction of MDSD tools – that is, those aspects that can be factored from domain architectures because they are of a more general nature. Yet a domain architecture cannot work without them: code generation techniques are an important foundation.

9.1 Code Generation – Why?

We have repeatedly mentioned that there is a close connection in MDSD between modeling, code generation and framework development – for example, framework completion code for the MDSD platform can be generated from a DSL. A rich, domain-specific platform, as described in Chapter 7, simplifies code generation and lessens the need for it. On the other hand, code generation offers advantages over purely generic approaches, or at least supplements them.

9.1.1 Performance

In many cases, code generation is used because one wishes to achieve a specific level of performance while maintaining a degree of flexibility. Traditional object-oriented techniques such as frameworks, polymorphism, or reflection are not always sufficient regarding their achievable performance. Using code generation, the configuration is stated abstractly – which also where its flexibility lies – and efficient code is generated.

9.1.2 Code Volume

Another reason for code generation is code size. If you know at compile time which features will be needed at runtime, the ...