Rich web-based applications are complex systems with multiple application elements running on diverse platforms distributed over different tiers.There are no UML-based modelling languages or tools catering for the specificity of the rich web-based applications to model the high-level aspects of application elements, platforms, and tiers.This paper proposes a model named the Applications model and its modelling elements to design the high-level application elements of rich web-based applications, the platforms they execute, and the tiers they belong to.The proposed model and the modelling elements improve the simplicity and readability of the high-level design of rich web-based applications.Our ongoing research expects to introduce more UML-based models and modelling elements to assist in designing all the aspects of rich web-based applications aligning with the Rich Web-based Applications Architectural style and then provide UML profiles to produce a formal UML extension.

The development aspects of rich web-based applications have evolved; however, abstract concepts, like styles and patterns, are still lacking. If an abstract style for rich web-based applications is available, it can support the whole engineering process in many ways, like assisting in designing aspects and the system’s evolution. We have produced an abstract architectural style named RiWAArch style for standard rich web-based applications, and we are working on extending the same to realize integrating push-communication. Push-communication has become a contemporary requirement in developing features like real-time notifications in rich web-based applications. However, the features to be expected from a style to realize the integration of the push-communication are not yet recognized. This concept paper proposes a set of features to be expected from a style for push-communication-integrated rich web-based applications. Our ongoing research will later utilize these features to form requirements and design a comprehensive style by extending the RiWAArch style to realize the abstract features of integrating true push-communication into rich web-based applications.