Answer»
- The MDA is a new way of writing specifications and developing applications, based on a platform-independent model (PIM). A complete MDA specification consists of a definitive platform-independent base UML® model, plus one or more platform-specific models (PSM) and interface DEFINITION sets, each describing how the base model is implemented on a different MIDDLEWARE platform.
- A complete MDA application consists of a definitive PIM, plus one or more PSMs and complete implementations, one on each platform that the application DEVELOPER decides to support.
- MDA development focuses FIRST on the functionality and behavior of a distributed application or system, undistorted by idiosyncrasies of the technology or technologies in which it will be implemented. MDA divorces implementation details from business functions.
- Thus, it is not necessary to repeat the process of modeling an application or system's functionality and behavior each time a new technology (e.g., XML/SOAP) comes ALONG. Other architectures are generally tied to a particular technology.
- With MDA, functionality and behavior are modeled once and only once. Mapping from a PIM through a PSM to the supported MDA platforms will be implemented by tools, easing the task of supporting new or different technologies.
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