Use Of Domain-specific Languages Research Articles

Using Metaprogramming Tools of the Common Lisp Language for the Development of Emulator Systems

The purpose of research is to analyze and use metaprogramming in the Common Lisp language when designing and implementing emulators that simulate computer system hardware. The metaprogramming, the macro tools of the Common Lisp language and the use of macros for metaprogramming are considered.Methods. The Lisp language is characterized by its use of uniform S-expressions to represent data and programs. Thus, data can be part of a program and vice versa: a program can be data. Common Lisp macro tools allow you to directly modify the abstract syntax tree of a program, and thus it is possible to create new syntactic constructs to solve a given problem. When implementing emulator functions, macro tools of the Common Lisp language can be used to generate functions, where the common part of the functions is included in the macro, and the differences between the functions are specified in the parameters when calling the macros. Examples of this macros are: bit status register macros, generation of ariphmetic commands, comparation commands, memory commands. Using that you can significantly reduce the size of the program.Results. As a result of computer modeling, a simulator of the NES architecture (MOS 6502 processor) was developed and implemented in the conventional object-orientied C# programming language and in the Common Lisp metaprogramming language. As a result, the simulator written in a language with metaprogramming support turned out to be more than 2 times smaller than the simulator written in C#.Conclusion. The use of metaprogramming (using the example of creating emulators) can significantly reduce the size of a program, simplify and improve the program architecture, reduce the number of errors and improve the quality of programs. The use of domain specific languages lets reduce code size even more.

PEMBANGUNAN COMPILER DOMAIN SPECIFIC LANGUAGE SEBAGAI GENERATOR FORM HTML MENGGUNAKAN PYTHON SLY

The rapid development of information technology has a significant impact on the way companies operate. Companies can utilize technology to simplify and accelerate their business processes, including recording and managing transactional data. PT XYZ is one of the largest retail companies, with a vast amount of data and requiring various types of different HTML forms. Therefore, standardization in program code writing is necessary to minimize errors and facilitate application maintenance. This research aims to build a Compiler Domain Specific Language (DSL) as a web-based HTML form generator for PT XYZ. The study uses the Python SLY library, passing the Lexer and Parser processes in DSL development. The result of this research is a web-based HTML form generator that facilitates developers in creating standardized and automatic HTML forms. The use of DSL can speed up the program code writing process, minimize errors, and create structured and easily understood code by developers.

PyDSLRep: A domain-specific language for robotic simulation in V-Rep.

Calculating forward and inverse kinematics for robotic agents is one of the most time-intensive tasks when controlling the robot movement in any environment. This calculation is then encoded to control the motors and validated in a simulator. The feedback produced by the simulation can be used to correct the code or to implement the code can be implemented directly in the robotic agent. However, the simulation process executes instructions that are not native to the robotic agents, extending development time or making it preferable to validate the code directly on the robot, which in some cases might result in severe damage to it. The use of Domain-Specific Languages help reduce development time in simulation tasks. These languages simplify code generation by describing tasks through an easy-to-understand language and free the user to use a framework or programming API directly for testing purposes. This article presents the language PyDSLRep, which is characterized by the connection and manipulation of movement in mobile robotic agents in the V-Rep simulation environment. This language is tested in three different environments by twenty people, against the framework given by V-Rep, demonstrating that PyDSLRep reduces the average development time by 45.22%, and the lines of code by 76.40% against the Python framework of V-Rep.

Algorithm source codes generation for ensuring N-version software diversity

Diversity is one of the fundamental principles for N-version software development. The development of redundant versions can significantly improve the reliability of software, but it is more time and labour consuming. Business and manufacturing require a higher level of software reliability. The task of reducing the lead-time and cost effectiveness becomes more important when developing N-version software for such industries. It is proposed to use automatic source code generation to create N-version software. The use of domain-specific language for the intermediate representation of the algorithm simplifies code generation in the target programming language. The authors discuss a new conceptual model of two-step code translation for N-version software. The proposed approach will simplify the process of N-version software development and reduce the number of required resources. The paper contains an example of C code generation as a target programming language, using flowcharts as a graphical representation of the source algorithm. The described approach is intended for use in safety-critical industries.

Multilevel coupled model transformations for precise and reusable definition of model behaviour

The use of Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) is a promising field for the development of tools tailored to specific problem spaces, effectively diminishing the complexity of hand-made software. With the goal of making models as precise, simple and reusable as possible, we augment DSLs with concepts from multilevel modelling, where the number of abstraction levels are not limited. This is particularly useful for DSL definitions with behaviour, whose concepts inherently belong to different levels of abstraction. Here, models can represent the state of the modelled system and evolve using model transformations. These transformations can benefit from a multilevel setting, becoming a precise and reusable definition of the semantics for behavioural modelling languages. We present in this paper the concept of Multilevel Coupled Model Transformations, together with examples, formal definitions and tools to assess their conceptual soundness and practical value.

Using language workbenches and domain-specific languages for safety-critical software development

Language workbenches support the efficient creation, integration, and use of domain-specific languages. Typically, they execute models by code generation to programming language code. This can lead to increased productivity and higher quality. However, in safety-/mission-critical environments, generated code may not be considered trustworthy, because of the lack of trust in the generation mechanisms. This makes it harder to justify the use of language workbenches in such an environment. In this paper, we demonstrate an approach to use such tools in critical environments. We argue that models created with domain-specific languages are easier to validate and that the additional risk resulting from the transformation to code can be mitigated by a suitably designed transformation and verification architecture. We validate the approach with an industrial case study from the healthcare domain. We also discuss the degree to which the approach is appropriate for critical software in space, automotive, and robotics systems.

Domain‐specific language for automatic generation of UML models

The majority of flaws found in software originates in the system requirements specification stage. The use of domain-specific languages has shown to be a valuable resource in this part of the process, since they help to establish communication standards, enable automation and bring productivity and quality gains, in spite of their limited vocabulary. This study proposes the implementation of language of use case to automate models (LUCAM), a domain-specific language that allows specification of textual use cases and semi-automated generation of use case diagrams, class diagrams and sequence diagrams through LUCAMTool. To verify the feasibility of the proposed solution, tests were performed in both simulated and real environments so as to comprise a variety of scenarios observed in systems development. The approach assists in the requirement analysis and modelling, minimising existing problems in natural language specification, such as the dependence on the knowledge of specialists, uncertainty, ambiguity and complexity.

Reverse engineering language product lines from existing DSL variants

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.

Automatic non-functional testing of code generators families

The intensive use of generative programming techniques provides an elegant engineering solution to deal with the heterogeneity of platforms and technological stacks. The use of domain-specific languages for example, leads to the creation of numerous code generators that automatically translate highlevel system specifications into multi-target executable code. Producing correct and efficient code generator is complex and error-prone. Although software designers provide generally high-level test suites to verify the functional outcome of generated code, it remains challenging and tedious to verify the behavior of produced code in terms of non-functional properties. This paper describes a practical approach based on a runtime monitoring infrastructure to automatically check the potential inefficient code generators. This infrastructure, based on system containers as execution platforms, allows code-generator developers to evaluate the generated code performance. We evaluate our approach by analyzing the performance of Haxe, a popular high-level programming language that involves a set of cross-platform code generators. Experimental results show that our approach is able to detect some performance inconsistencies that reveal real issues in Haxe code generators.

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

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 patterns – such as state machines or petri nets – used 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.

Lenguaje de dominio especifico para configuración de dispositivos de redes

Introducción: este trabajo hace parte del proyecto “Modelo de algoritmo para implementación de configuraciones en dispositivos de redes”, adscrito a la Maestría de Ciencias de la Información y las Comunicaciones de la Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas en el 2015 y 2016. El problema detectado es la búsqueda de configuraciones en dispositivos de red, la cual resulta ser una tarea compleja y repetitiva debido a la gran variedad de configuraciones existentes. Metodología: este artículo presenta el desarrollo de dos lenguajes de dominio específico (dsl) basados en mde, uno gráfico: cnpGraph, y uno textual: cnpText, como propuesta de solución al problema. Cada herramienta genera un documento con las configuraciones de los protocolos de red requeridas para los dispositivos de red, ya sean routers o switches. Resultados: las pruebas se hicieron sobre diferentes escenarios y configuraciones, comparando los tiempos de búsqueda mediante el uso de lenguajes de dominio específico y búsquedas convencionales. Los resultados mostraron que cnpGraph y cnpText reducen en más de un 80 % el tiempo necesario para encontrar las configuraciones. Conclusiones: la característica principal, tanto de cnpGraph como de cnpText, es la posibilidad de ampliación del número de protocolos y marcas de fabricantes de routers y switchess, así como la vinculación de protocolos, con el propósito de añadir nuevos dispositivos de red de diferentes fabricantes y disponer de toda la configuración necesaria para establecer cualquier tipo de red.

Domain Specific Languages in Practice

the last three decades, an increasing number of languages used for designing and developing software have been created. Software developers gain the benefits of combining multiple programming languages and paradigms in application development, as a result the so-called language engineering approach can be outlined. It involves Domain- Specific Languages (DSLs) and automatic code generation. This paper offers a brief review of the use of DSL as a modeling and programming language and it tight connection with automatic code generation. The evolution of the developed software product requires evolution of the domain- specific language as well. Some of the risks of abandoning of DSLs during development are discussed.

Mashup of metalanguages and its implementation in the Kermeta language workbench

With the growing use of domain-specific languages (DSL) in industry, DSL design and implementation goes far beyond an activity for a few experts only and becomes a challenging task for thousands of software engineers. DSL implementation indeed requires engineers to care for various concerns, from abstract syntax, static semantics, behavioral semantics, to extra-functional issues such as runtime performance. This paper presents an approach that uses one metalanguage per language implementation concern. We show that the usage and combination of those metalanguages is simple and intuitive enough to deserve the term mashup. We evaluate the approach by completely implementing the non-trivial fUML modeling language, a semantically sound and executable subset of the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

Modularizing and Specifying Protocols among Threads

We identify three problems with current techniques for implementing protocols among threads, which complicate and impair the scalability of multicore software development: implementing synchronization, implementing coordination, and modularizing protocols. To mend these deficiencies, we argue for the use of domain-specific languages (DSL) based on existing models of concurrency. To demonstrate the feasibility of this proposal, we explain how to use the model of concurrency Reo as a high-level protocol DSL, which offers appropriate abstractions and a natural separation of protocols and computations. We describe a Reo-to-Java compiler and illustrate its use through examples.

Gade4all: Developing Multi-platform Videogames based on Domain Specific Languages and Model Driven Engineering

The development of applications for mobile devices is a constantly growing market which and more and more enterprises support the development of applications for this kind of devices. In that sense, videogames for mobile devices have become very popular worldwide and are now part of highly profitable and competitive industry. Due to the diversity of platforms and mobile devices and the complexity of this kind of applications, the development time and the number of errors within that development process have increased. The productivity of the developers has also decreased due to the necessity of using many programming languages in the development process. One of the most popular strategies is to employ specialized people to perform the development tasks more efficiently, but this involves an increase of the costs, which makes some applications economically unviable. In this article we present the Gade4all Project, consisting in a new platform that aims to facilitate the development of videogames and entertainment software through the use of Domain Specific Languages and Model Driven Engineering. This tool makes possible for users without previous knowledge in the field of software development to create 2D videogames for multiplatform mobile devices in a simple and innovative way.

Metamodels for role-driven agent-based modelling

A major challenge in agent-based modelling is the management of the process to generate executable simulations from the initial conceptual models. This process is complex and usually involves several roles, which may raise communication problems due to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of participants and the use of non-explicit knowledge. This situation demands a clear separation and precise definition of the multiple aspects of the process, in order to facilitate their understanding, grasp their relationships and develop them. This paper addresses this goal with a fine-step refinement process for information based on the use of domain-specific languages. It considers analysis contexts that include a particular theoretical framework, domain, type of problem and target platform. For a given context, the process formally defines modelling languages conceptually close to the different aspects relevant to it. It also defines mappings between concepts in those languages. Researchers develop simulations by specifying models with the languages, and share and refine information by using mappings between these models. This infrastructure provides guidance throughout the process and makes the information involved explicit. A case study of continuous double auctions illustrates the approach.

Defining DSL design principles for enhancing the requirements elicitation process

Requirements elicitation is concerned with learning and understanding the needs of users w.r.t. a new software development. Frequently the methods employed for requirements elicitation are adapted from areas like social sciences that do not include executable (prototype based on) feedback. As a consequence, it is relatively common to discover that the first release does not fit the requirements defined at the beginning of the project. Using domain-specific languages (DSLs) as an auxiliary tool for requirements elicitation is a commonly well accepted idea. Unfortunately, there are few works in the literature devoted to the definition of design principles for DSLs to be experienced in the frameworks for DSL developing such as ANTLR, Ruby, and Curry. We propose design principles for the DSL development (regardless of paradigm) which are sufficient to model the domain in a requirements phase. Further more we enunciate a new profile for the requirements analyst and a set of elicitation steps. The use of DSLs not only giveus an immediate feedback with the stake holders; it also allows us to produce part of the real code.

Filet-o-fish

We address a persistent problem with using domain-specific languages to write operating systems: the effort of implementing, checking, and debugging the DSL usually outweighs any of its benefits. Because these DSLs generate C by templated string concatenation, they are tedious to write, fragile, and incompatible with automated verification tools. We present Filet-o-Fish (FoF), a semantic language to ease DSL construction. Building a DSL using FoF consists of safely composing semantically-rich building blocks. This has several advantages: input files for the DSL are formal specifications of the system's functionality, automated testing of the DSL is possible via existing tools, and we can prove that the C code generated by a given DSL respects the semantics expected by the developer. Early experience has been good: FoF is in daily use as part of the tool chain of the Barrelfish multicore OS, which makes extensive use of domain-specific languages to generate low-level OS code. We have found that the ability to rapidly generate DSLs we can rely on has changed how we have designed the OS.

Constructive and Destructive Use of Compilers in Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Although cryptographic software implementation is often performed by expert programmers, the range of performance and security driven options, as well as more mundane software engineering issues, still make it a challenge. The use of domain specific language and compiler techniques to assist in description and optimisation of cryptographic software is an interesting research challenge. In this paper we investigate two aspects of such techniques, focusing on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) in particular. Our constructive results show that a suitable language allows description of ECC based software in a manner close to the original mathematics; the corresponding compiler allows automatic production of an executable whose performance is competitive with that of a hand-optimised implementation. In contrast, we study the worrying potential for naïve compiler driven optimisation to render cryptographic software insecure. Both aspects of our work are set within the context of CACE, an ongoing EU funded project on this general topic.

The design of a language for model transformations

Model-driven development of software systems envisions transformations applied in various stages of the development process. Similarly, the use of domain-specific languages also necessitates transformations that map domain-specific constructs into the constructs of an underlying programming language. Thus, in these cases, the writing of transformation tools becomes a first-class activity of the software engineer. This paper introduces a language that was designed to support implementing highly efficient transformation programs that perform model-to-model or model-to-code translations. The language uses the concepts of graph transformations and metamodeling, and is supported by a suite of tools that allow the rapid prototyping and realization of transformation tools.