UML began as an attempt to unify object-oriented methods, most of which promoted modeling as a precursor to coding. That is, sketch out the problem first, elaborate a design, and then write code from the diagrams. Some methods, however, promoted executing the models, either by adding code to them or using an action language. xtUML is a subset of UML that uses an action language and translates it to any target using the principles of model-driven architecture (MDA).
UML has grown to accommodate these approaches by recently adding an action model, and beginning the standardization of an executable UML subset. This talk will identify the benefits to developers of such standards and define the steps needed to reach the goals. Progress so far, obstacles, and the outlook will also be described.