Developing a modeling tool
          someone wants to use
Challenges, trends and solutions for how to develop
 modeling tools that people can and want to use

                       Mattias Mohlin
                   HCL Technologies, Sweden


                              Abstract
    Developing a comprehensive modeling tool requires big effort and
there can for sure be many technical challenges in its implementation.
However, as the tool matures and gets more widely adopted by users, a
set of new challenges arise. These are not so much related to the actual
tool implementation, but more to questions around enabling the users
to successfully use the tool.
    In this talk I will share my experiences from development of mod-
eling tools during the last 20 years. How has the focus of the industry
shifted during these years, from the technical problems a tool should
solve to an increased focus on “softer” issues such as usability, docu-
mentation and general user enablement? How has the introduction of
new agile development methodologies helped tool vendors create better
modeling tools? And what techniques can be used to learn more about
the tool users and their needs? These are some examples of questions
that are very relevant for anyone that wants to develop a modeling tool
that someone wants to use.