Bran Selic on the pending spec for model-driven The Object Management Group (OMG) is amid a vote on whether to approve UML (Unified Modeling Language) 2.0, the latest version of this specification for model-driven development. InfoWorld Editor at Large Paul Krill spoke with Bran Selic, co-chairman of the OMG task force on UML 2.0 and an IBM distinguished engineer.IW: Why should we be excited about UML 2.0?BS: UML 2.0 is the first major revision of UML, and the big reason to be excited is that it’s based on this idea of model-driven development. It’s essentially a standard that has been revamped to better support that whole concept of models taking primacy in software development. IW: Why is model-driven development better than the way things have been done?BS: One [reason] is working at a higher level of abstraction so that you’re closer to the problem; modeling languages give you that ability. Another aspect that is significantly better is the automation side and the fact that you start using computers to help bridge the gap from a [mere] level of abstraction down to the implementation.IW: What do you see in a follow-up to UML 2.0, or is it the last major version of the language? BS: There’s enough of a base for it that people will be doing it and using it for a long time to come. So there will be more versions of UML for sure. The question is, will the next version be something as dramatic as UML 2.0, or will it be just an evolution? I expect that as we gain more experience with model-driven development and we start developing a more comprehensive theory of modeling language design, we will have [subsequent generations] of modeling languages coming along pretty soon. In four to five years, I expect to see the next generation of modeling languages being [ready]. Technology Industry