# Building BESSER: an open-source low-code platform

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.13620 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.13620/

## Key facts

- Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 22 May 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Towards Sustainability Model Cards](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.19559/) (2025)
- [Towards Migrating Neural Network Implementations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.02610/) (2025)
- [AgentSLA : Towards a Service Level Agreement for AI Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.02885/) (2025)
- [Model-Driven Discipline for Multi-Agent LLMs: Requirement-to-Verification Generation of Traceable System Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.16708/) (2026)
- [Low-code to fight climate change: the Climaborough project](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.14623/) (2025)
- [Vibe-driven model-based engineering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.10645/) (2026)
- [A Low-Code Approach for the Automatic Personalization of Conversational Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.02384/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Low-code platforms (latest reincarnation of the long tradition of model-driven engineering approaches) have the potential of saving us countless hours of repetitive boilerplate coding tasks. However, as software systems grow in complexity, low-code platforms need to adapt as well. Notably, nowadays this implies adapting to the modeling and generation of smart software. At the same time, if we want to broaden the userbase of this type of tools, we should also be able to provide more open source alternatives that help potential users avoid vendor lock-ins and give them the freedom to explore low-code development approaches (even adapting the tool to better fit their needs). To fulfil these needs, we are building BESSER, an open source low-code platform for developing (smart) software. BESSER offers various forms (i.e., notations) for system and domain specification (e.g. UML for technical users and chatbots for business users) together with a number of generators. Both types of components can be extended and are open to contributions from the community.