Variable Domain-specific Software Languages with DjDSL: Design and Implementation

by Stefan Sobernig

Overview

This book details the conceptual foundations, design and implementation of the domain-specific language (DSL) development system DjDSL. DjDSL facilitates design-decision-making on and implementation of reusable DSL and DSL-product lines, and represents the state-of-the-art in language-based and composition-based DSL development. As such, it unites elements at the crossroads between software-language engineering, model-driven software engineering, and feature-oriented software engineering.

The book is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1 (“DSL as Variable Software”) explains the notion of DSL as variable software in greater detail and introduces readers to the idea of software-product line engineering for DSL-based software systems. Chapter 2 (“Variability Support in DSL Development”) sheds light on a number of interrelated dimensions of DSL variability: variable development processes, variable design-decisions, and variability-implementation techniques for DSL. The three subsequent chapters are devoted to the key conceptual and technical contributions of DjDSL: Chapter 3 (“Variable Language Models”) explains how to design and implement the abstract syntax of a DSL in a variable manner. Chapter 4 (“Variable Context Conditions”) then provides the means to refine an abstract syntax (language model) by using composable context conditions (invariants). Next, Chapter 5 (“Variable Textual Syntaxes”) details solutions to implementing variable textual syntaxes for different types of DSL. In closing, Chapter 6 (“A Story of a DSL Family”) shows how to develop a mixed DSL in a step-by-step manner, demonstrating how the previously introduced techniques can be employed in an advanced example of developing a DSL family.

The book is intended for readers interested in language-oriented as well as model-driven software development, including software-engineering researchers and advanced software developers alike. An understanding of software-engineering basics (architecture, design, implementation, testing) and software patterns is essential. Readers should especially be familiar with the basics of object-oriented modelling (UML, MOF, Ecore) and programming (e.g., Java).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030421519
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	07/10/2020
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	297
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Stefan Sobernig is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Information Systems and New Media, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria. His research interests include model-driven software-language engineering, feature-oriented software development, software patterns, and middleware engineering.

Table of Contents

DSL as Variable Software.- Variability Support in DSL Development.- Variable Language Models.- Variable Context Conditions.- Variable Textual Syntaxes.- A Story of a DSL Family.