Markus Völter, a software consultant and coach, discusses the power of domain-specific languages (DSLs), exploring their benefits and applications in industries like embedded systems. He also explores restricted LISP usage, language workbenches, and involving domain experts in DSL development. The interview concludes with recommendations for further exploration.
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Quick takeaways
DSLs reduce repetitive tasks and enhance collaboration by providing a formal representation of domain intricacies.
Structured domains benefit from DSLs for automating code generation and enabling precise analysis.
Projectional editors offer flexible syntax and multiple notations, improving the writeability and readability of DSL code.
Deep dives
DSLs provide automation and precise domain representation
Domain-specific languages (DSLs) provide automation, allowing users to write less code and generate more, reducing the need for repetitive manual tasks. Additionally, DSLs capture the structures and behaviors of a specific domain, providing a formal representation of its intricacies. This formal definition acts as a communication vehicle between non-programmers, domain experts, and software developers, enhancing collaboration and understanding. DSLs also enable valuable analyses, such as correctness checking and model verification, improving the reliability and quality of software development.
Designing DSLs focuses on structured and composable domains
The design of DSLs is driven by the structure and composition of domains. DSLs are most effective in highly structured domains where it is beneficial to have a structured language to represent the concepts effectively. By representing domain concepts as first-class abstractions in a DSL, it becomes easier to perform meaningful analyses specific to that aspect of the domain. This includes automating code generation and enabling model checking. DSLs are particularly useful in domains where repetitive tasks can be automated or complex behaviors need to be precisely captured and analyzed.
Projectional editors provide flexible syntax and multiple notations
Projectional editors offer a distinctive approach to designing DSLs by allowing for flexible syntax and multiple notations. In projectional editors, code is directly represented as a structured tree, allowing for different visualizations and notations. For example, a state machine DSL can be projected as a table, text, or graphics, catering to different stakeholders' preferences and needs. This flexibility enhances both writeability and readability of DSL code. Additionally, projectional editors enable composition of languages, making it possible to combine and integrate DSLs with general-purpose languages seamlessly.
DSLs can involve non-programmers in the development process
The involvement of non-programmers in DSL development has become increasingly feasible and valuable. DSLs can be designed to be more accessible to domain experts who may not have programming backgrounds. By involving domain experts in the design process, language abstractions and syntax can be tailored to their needs, resulting in higher adoption and ease of use. This allows domain experts to directly create, modify, and maintain DSL-based software systems, reducing the reliance on traditional programmers. The ability to involve non-programmers in the development process can lead to increased productivity and domain-specific expertise in software development.
Language workbenches enable efficient DSL creation
Language workbenches offer powerful tools and frameworks for efficient DSL development. These integrated environments provide features such as schema-based language definition, projectional editing, IDE support, and transformation capabilities. Language workbenches facilitate the creation of DSLs and their supporting tooling, empowering developers to build languages that are concise, expressive, and tailored to their specific domains. With language workbenches, developers can create languages that encompass syntax, type systems, and multiple supporting tools, enabling efficient and effective DSL development.
For Episode 200 of Software Engineering Radio, Diomidis Spinellis interviews Markus Völter, the podcast’s founder. Markus works as an independent researcher, consultant, and coach for itemis AG in Stuttgart, Germany. His focus is on software architecture, model-driven software development and domain specific languages as well as on product line engineering. Markus also regularly publishes articles, […]
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