Multi-Paradigm Modelling: A Systematic Review

Since most complex software systems nowadays are intrinsically multi-paradigm, their engineering is a challenging issue. Multi-Paradigm Modelling (MPM) aims at facing such a challenge by providing a suitable set of concepts and tools to integrate models, abstractions, technologies, and methods from diverse computational paradigms. In this paper we survey the main MPM approaches in the literature, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and compare them according to three main criteria—namely,  the software development process, (ii) the adoption of meta-models techniques, (iii) the availability of adequate supporting tools. Furthermore, we explore the adoption of other promising approaches for the engineering of multi-paradigm systems, such as Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) and Systems of Systems (SoS), and discuss the role of Situational Process Engineering (SPE) in the composition of multi-paradigm software processes.