The term Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is used to refer to software development approaches in which models are the primary development artifacts. A model is created for a specific purpose and contains only information needed to fulfill its purpose. One can expect that the development of a complex system will involve the creation and manipulation of many models, where each model describes an aspect of the system under development. From this perspective, the design process can be characterized as a (partially automatable) weaving of these aspects into a detailed design model. There is a growing research community that is interested in developing modeling techniques that leverage work in the areas of Aspect-Oriented Software Development (AOSD) and MDE. AOSD research aims to provide better support for separating interdependent concerns while MDE research aims to provide better support for the use of models as the primary artifacts of development. Development approaches that leverage work in these two areas are more likely to provide effective support for managing software complexity.

This special issue aims to present high-quality papers that reflect state-of-the-art research on development approaches that leverage MDE and AOSD techniques. Authors are invited to submit papers that focus on methodologies, techniques, tools, and processes that support the integrated use of AOSD and MDE techniques.

The following are  some of the topic  areas that the special issue plans to cover:

• Methods and techniques supporting separation, composition, and evolution of aspects identified in different development phases (e.g., requirements, architecture, detailed design, deployment).
• Techniques for identifying and resolving faulty  interactions across aspects.
• Techniques for verifying and validating aspect-oriented  models.
• Using models to reason about aspect-oriented program  behavior.
• Using models to support evolution of aspect-oriented  programs.
• Using models to support specification of pointcuts and  joinpoints.
• AOM case studies or experience reports that provide significant insights into how aspect-oriented modeling techniques can be applied across the development  life-cycle.
• Providing tool support for use of integrated AOSD and MDE  techniques.
• Providing language support for aspect-oriented modeling and for modeling aspect-oriented programs.
  

Submissions

Original   manuscripts   should   follow   LNCS   formatting guidelines,  and  should  be  submitted  as  PDF  or  zipped
PostScript files to mde-taosd@irisa.fr. Each submission will be reviewed by, at least, three referees

Guest Editors

Robert France, Colorado State University, USA.
Jean-Marc Jezequel, Irisa (INRIA & University of Rennes), France.

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: November 15, 2007
First Round Review Notification: February 28, 2008
Re-Submission Revised Papers: April 30, 2008
Second Round Review Notification: June 15, 2008
Submission of the Camera Ready: July 15, 2008
Special issue's publication: late 2008 or early 2009