Variable Domain-specific Software Languages with DjDSL

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).

• Domain-Specific Languages
• Software Product Lines
• Formal language definitions
• Development frameworks and environments
• Context specific languages
• Model-driven software development
• Feature-oriented software engineering

• Institute for Information Systems and New Media, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria

  Stefan Sobernig

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.

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