A Survey on Modeling of Blockchain Oriented Software Systems and Smart Contracts

Modeling is the process of developing models representing software systems from different perspectives using a modeling language that includes graphical notation. This process assists software developers in understanding the system functionality, evaluating design proposals, and documenting the software to be implemented. Blockchain is a popular, decentralized, efficient, and secure technology that enables transparent and tamper-resistant transactions across distributed networks. However, blockchain systems lack a dedicated modeling language to represent Blockchain-Based Applications (BBAs) and related Smart Contracts (SCs). Recent research has introduced adaptations of well-known graphical notations to meet the unique modeling needs of blockchain systems. This paper proposes a structured review of graphical models, techniques, and languages to enhance Blockchain-Oriented Software Engineering (BOSE) modeling. A detailed analysis of 36 studies published between 2018 and 2023 highlights the trends and developments in blockchain modeling, and a classification of modified modeling techniques and languages for BBAs and SCs is presented. A modeling framework that guides blockchain developers in describing, designing, and documenting BBAs and related SCs is developed, and an example is provided to demonstrate how this framework is used. These insights can help software engineers select suitable modeling strategies to improve the reliability and quality of BBAs.