Authors:
Vitaliy Schreibmann
and
Peter Braun
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany
Keyword(s):
REST, RESTful, API, Model-driven Software Development.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Internet Technology
;
Metadata and Metamodeling
;
Restful Web Services
;
Web Information Systems and Technologies
;
Web Interfaces and Applications
;
Web Services and Web Engineering
Abstract:
We propose a model-driven approach for creating RESTful APIs. Today, REST APIs are developed by using
frameworks and libraries that support software developers on the level of the chosen programming language,
i.e., a lower level of abstraction. We argue that the development process can benefit from a model-driven
approach, where an API is modeled on a higher level of abstraction by using a new formal language that was
designed in particular for this application domain. From this model, the source code of the API is generated
automatically, along with necessary code on the business logic and database layer. The benefits of this
approach include higher productivity, better maintenance, higher quality, and documentation for free.