BestPractices:Main concepts definition

MDriven

MDriven is a rule engine that, given a UML model and a Persistence Mapper, will help any .net runtime handle the objects of that model in memory. MDriven will help de-hydrate or hydrate objects from persistent storage, ie a database, via the Persistence Mapper.

MDriven is also the name of a Visual Studio Plugin that brings MDriven, Modlr, Derived Code, Derived DB scripts, and Database Evolution to Visual Studio.

MDriven is UI agnostic. It does, however, contain parts that help with asynchronous access to persistence storage (good for WPF), parts for serializing a complete object graph into a cache (very useful for ASP.NET and MVC), parts that simplify bringing objects from the model to a format that makes it easy to data-bind to WindowsForms, WPF, Silverlight, ASP.NET and ASP MVC - and also helps MDrivenTurnkey to stream objects and changes to a thin client (for example, built-in Javascript).

ORM – Object Relational Mapping

ORM is the process of turning rows in a relational database into objects. MDriven does this with flying colors – without stopping to blink…

Modlr

Modlr is the graphical editor that helps with model creation. Modlr happens to be built with MDriven. We had another modeling tool at first – we created a meta-model that we built the Modlr logic on, using WPF as the UI engine – but nowadays, Modlr is maintained with Modlr.

WECPOF

WECPOF is a prototyping technology that takes a model created with Modlr and with a few extensions regarding ViewModels with UI hints and Action definitions that Modlr offers, allowing the model to execute just like an application would – strictly declarative. It is great for prototyping and for the standard UI you want to consistently have throughout your application.

MDriven Designer

MDriven Designer is similar to MDriven without Visual Studio and coding. You can load MDriven files into MDrivenDesigner or load MDrivenDesigner files into MDriven for VS. You might want to use the Designer when meeting the client – give MDriven Designer to the client – or you might manage all your work with MDriven Designer. No license is needed for Visual Studio to run the Designer. Whenever you need to have complete code that represents your model and want to focus on serious system development in a multi-user environment with high scalability and low maintenance footprint, use MDriven for Visual Studio with your Designer files.

ViewModels

A ViewModel in Modlr is a series of transformation expressions that turn a part of the model into a potentially transformed view of the model.

ViewModels in Modlr also allows for catching UI hints for each such transformation. These hints can, along with the resulting type of transformation, be used to declaratively derive a user interface. MDriven comes with UI components for WindowsForms, ASP.NET, Silverlight, WPF, Unity 3D, and Angular JS (via MDriven Turnkey) that transform such a ViewModel with UI hints into a user interface.

EA-Information

EA-Information is a series of information elements that we catch in Modlr that describe the different aspects of a business. It allows you to catch processes, actors, applications, information, and infrastructure in a cross-referenced way to help you understand and communicate how the business works. Use this early in your design process and never stop – you will get great results in your projects as you have an overview and understanding of everything.