Model-driven development of cloud-connected mobile applications using DSLs with xtext

Abstract

Cross-platform development is a very interesting topic since mobile devices grow increasingly popular and mobile applications offer great possibilities. In addition, a new type of powerful applications is emerging as an attractive option, more specifically applications that use Cloud backends for computation and storage. However, targeting multiple mobile platforms is difficult due to the heterogeneities that exist between technologies. This paper advances the use of Model-Driven Software Development to increase the level of abstraction to which an application is specified. Using a custom defined Domain-Specific Language and multiple code generators, it is possible to produce cloud-connected native applications for each targeted platform thus improving cross-platform development process. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.