Model Driven Architecture: Applying MDA to Enterprise Computing (OMG) [Kindle Edition]

Dave has written a clear, pragmatic guide to what MDA is and, more importantly, what really can (and cannot) be practically accomplished with MDA today. He unerringly focuses on the highest payoff areas for most projects, such as the generation of code from data models. He also brings his years of experience in developing enterprise systems to bear, clearly describing the specific issues involved in applying MDA in this difficult area.

The book gives a thorough presentation of the concepts behind MDA -- including the clearest discussion I have seen anywhere of OMG's Meta Object Facility, a perennial topic of confusion. Nevertheless, I don't really consider this a book on "MDA" as such. It is, indeed, a book on APPLYING MDA, as the title states.

If you are looking for a more theoretical presentation or a grand vision of how MDA will work someday, you may be disappointed. But if you are looking for techniques you can start applying the week after you finish the book, this is the book you want to be finishing.

I am currently Chief Architect at a company that is in the process of making the cultural and technical shift to model-driven development. I found this book so relevant to where we are and the next steps we need to take toward MDA, that I had the company buy copies for all our architects, plus a few extras to circulate among the developers. I even had my boss (the company president) read Part One, which provided just the right level of overview for him (plus Michael Guttman's forward, which is a fun read in itself).

If you are in a similar situation where you work, I couldn't suggest a better book as a helpful change agent. And if you simply want to know how to start applying MDA techniques for enterprise development, this is where to find out.

Dave has another virtue that he brings to this book: He is scrupulously honest. At each step, he explains just what currently exists, what will need to be created, and what one can do in the meantime. This book not only explains MDA, but it lets managers know exactly what will really be involved in actually implementing MDA in their organizations.

This is a book for corporate managers and architects who are thinking about MDA and need to really understand how it works. Such a reader would have a basic knowledge of UML, and the ability to read pseudo code. The book develops a currency options trading example to illustrate some of the concepts. This book will be the bible for everyone who is trying to learn or use MDA in the course of the next few years. I can't imagine that anyone could write anything clearer about this very complex and powerful new approach to software development. Every software architect needs to read this book.