Guest editorial to the theme issue on traceability in model-driven engineering

Abstract

This issue of Software and Systems Modeling, and part of the issue that follows, are dedicated to the theme of traceability in model-driven engineering (MDE). Traceability is a fundamental concern in MDE processes, where models are related via application of different model management operations, such as model-to-model transformations, modelto-text transformations, model merging, model comparison, and many others. MDE emphasises on the application of automated model management operations, and substantial traceability information can be produced as a side-effect of applying these operations. In addition, in realistic MDE processes, traceability information can be produced by hand, through engineers manually relate MDE artefacts, or relate MDE artefacts with other artefacts (such as requirements documents). Overall, there are many challenges to traceability in MDE, ranging from managing large traceability models, to synchronizing models, and to keep traceability information consistentwhenmodels are beingmodified automatically and manually. This theme issue presents state-ofthe-art research on these and other challenges. Since 2005, the ECMDA-FA/ECMFA Workshop on Traceability has presented the leading research on traceability in MDE. After the 2008 workshop in Berlin, authors of accepted papers from the previous four workshops were invited to submit their latest results (perhaps derived from their workshop papers) to this theme issue. At the same time, an open call was issued, soliciting submissions from the