Early experience with agile methodology in a model-driven approach

We are in the business of delivering software intensive business systems using model-driven techniques. Developing suitable code generators is an important step in model-based development of purpose-specific business applications. Hence, it becomes critical to ensure that code generator development doesn't become a bottleneck for the project delivery. After establishing a sophisticated technology infrastructure to facilitate quick and easy adaptation of model-based code generators, we experimented with agile methodology. In this paper, we discuss why pure agile methodology does not work for model-driven software development. We propose a modification to the agile methodology in the form of meta-sprints as a golden mean between agile method and traditional plan-driven method. Early experience with the proposed development method is shared along with the lessons learnt.