Modeling Language Variability

Proceedings of the 22nd International Systems and Software Product Line Conference - Volume 1

Galindo

Combemale

et al. 2018

The use of domain-specific languages (DSLs) has become a successful technique to develop complex systems. In this context, an emerging phenomenon is the existence of DSL variants, which are different versions of a DSL adapted to specific purposes but that still share commonalities. In such a case, the challenge for language designers is to reuse, as much as possible, previously defined language constructs to narrow implementation from scratch. To overcome this challenge, recent research in software languages engineering introduced the the notion of language product lines. Similarly to software product lines, language product lines are often built from a set of existing DSL variants. In this article, we propose a reverse-engineering technique to ease-off such a development scenario. Our approach receives a set of DSL variants which are used to automatically recover a language modular design and to synthesize the corresponding variability models. The validation is performed in a project involving industrial partners that required three different variants of a DSL for finite state machines. This validation shows that our approach is able to correctly identify commonalities and variability.

Section: Language Variability How To Express It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reverse engineering language product lines from existing DSL variants

Proceedings of the 22nd International Systems and Software Product Line Conference - Volume 1

Galindo

Combemale

et al. 2018

“…Multi-dimensional variability modeling: The variability existing between DSLs should be explicitly represented in order to identify the combinations of language modules that, once assembled, will produce valid DSLs. The fact that a DSL is specified in different implementation concerns implies different dimensions of variability [17,18]. Let us summarize each of these dimensions.…”

Section: Languages Variability Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leveraging Software Product Lines Engineering in the development of external DSLs: A systematic literature review

Computer Languages, Systems & Structures

Galindo

Degueule

et al. 2016

The use of domain-specific languages (DSLs) has become a successful technique in the development of complex systems. Consequently, nowadays we can find a large variety of DSLs for diverse purposes. However, not all these DSLs are completely different; many of them share certain commonalities coming from similar modeling patternssuch as state machines or petri netsused for several purposes. In this scenario, the challenge for language designers is to take advantage of the commonalities existing among similar DSLs by reusing, as much as possible, formerly defined language constructs. The objective is to leverage previous engineering efforts to minimize implementation from scratch. To this end, recent research in software language engineering proposes the use of product line engineering, thus introducing the notion of language product lines. Nowadays, there are several approaches that result useful in the construction of language product lines. In this article, we report on an effort for organizing the literature on language product line engineering. More precisely, we propose a definition for the life-cycle of language product lines, and we use it to analyze the capabilities of current approaches. In addition, we provide a mapping between each approach and the technological space it supports. of the system [4]; consequently, nowadays there is a large variety of DSLs conceived for diverse purposes [5]. We can find, for example, DSLs to build graphical user interfaces [6], or to specify security policies [7]. Although each of the existing DSLs is unique and has been developed for a precise purpose, not all the existing DSLs are completely different among them. Recent research has shown the existence of DSLs providing similar language constructs [8,9]. A possible explanation to such phenomenon is the recurrent use of certain modeling patterns that, with proper adaptations, are suitable for several purposes. Consider, for instance, the case of finite state machines which have inspired many DSLs dealing with diverse problems such as the design of integrated circuits [10], performing software components composition [11], or the alignment of business processes with legislation [12]. In this context, the challenge for language designers is to take advantage of the commonalities existing among similar DSLs by reusing, as much as possible, formerly defined language constructs [13]. The objective is to leverage previous engineering efforts to minimize implementation from scratch. Ideally, the reuse process should be systematic. This requires, on one hand, to define reusable segments of language specifications that can be included in the definition of several DSLs, and on the other hand, an appropriate management of the variability introduced by the particularities of each DSL [2]. To overcome this challenge, the research community in software language engineering has proposed the use of Software Product Lines Engineering (SPLE) in the construction of DSLs [14]. Indeed, the notion of Language Product Lines Engineering (LPLE)i....

“…The whole language specification is obtained by putting all the language units together. In [8] the authors observed that there exists some variability between each of those dimensions. Thereby, one language construct (i.e., a concept in the abstract syntax) may be represented in several ways (i.e., several possible concrete syntaxes) and/or may have different meanings (several possible semantics).…”

Section: Variability Management and Language Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

When Systems Engineering Meets Software Language Engineering

Jézéquel

Complex Systems Design &Amp; Management

Degueule

et al. 2015

The engineering of systems involves many different stakeholders, each with their own domain of expertise. Hence more and more organizations are adopting Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) to allow domain experts to express solutions directly in terms of relevant domain concepts. This new trend raises new challenges about designing DSLs, evolving a set of DSLs and coordinating the use of multiple DSLs for both DSL designers and DSL users. This paper explores various dimensions of these challenges, and outlines a possible research roadmap for addressing them. The message of this paper is also to claim that if language engineering techniques to design any single (disposable) language are mature, the language engineering community needs to fundamentally change its view on software language design. We need to take the next step and adopt the perspective that a software language is, fundamentally, software too and thus the result of a composition of design decisions. These design decisions should be represented as first-class entities in the software languages workbench and it should be possible, during the language lifecycle, to add, remove and change language design decisions with limited effort to go from continuous design to continuous meta-design.