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15.12.2011 Domain Specific Languages in Commercial Software Development

Integration, extensibility and customization options are important aspects for commercial software products. For this reason it has become common practice that component-of-the-shelf (COTS) software offers an application programming interfaces (API) as part of the solution. Consultants, partners and power users can make use of the API to automate tasks, to integrate the software with other applications, to create extensions that are unique to them or to just customize the software slightly to tailor it to specific needs.

The problem with an API is that it requires that the person who uses it has in-depth software development skills. Adding a certain function based on an API typically means creating a project in a software development environment like Microsoft Visual Studio or Eclipse, writing code in a programming language like C# or Java, building the resulting project and finally deploying it accordingly. The result is that many users who would like to extend a system are locked out and extensions are expensive and time-consuming because specific knowledge is needed.

Domain specific languages can help solving this problem. Ideally they offer power users a possibility to express their intention in a way that is more natural to them than general-purpose programming languages. In the session the presenter will start with a brief introduction to textual and graphical domain specific languages. He will show a practical example of a DSL that he has designed and implemented with his team. It is used to extend and customize a cloud-based SaaS ERP system.

Despite the advantages of DSLs many small and medium sized independent software vendors (ISV) shy away from designing and implementing them. They recognize that implementing a DSL means dealing with compiler construction and therefore the topic appears to be a little esoteric. However, today there are tools available that makes it feasible to design and create DSLs in commercial software development even in small and medium companies. In the second part of his talk the presenter will show such tools and techniques for implementing textual and graphical DSLs. He will introduce and demo an example of a compiler-compiler (ANTLR, http://www.antlr.org) as well as an example for a graphical DSL with a XML-based backend. Based on this the presenter will show how the underlying architecture of the example presented in the first part of the talk looks like (remark: The example is implemented based on Microsoft's .NET technology). This also includes a description of how the DSL is compiled to other formats and languages for execution in the UI- and business logic layer as well as the database layer.

In the last part of the talk the presenter will discuss lessons learned during the presented sample project. He will speak about the hurdles that he and his team had to overcome until they managed to ship the first release of the DSL. The audience will receive insight into the efforts that had to be invested into the component and the value that the DSL has for the product today.

Lessons for Attendees

General introduction into the topic of textual and graphical DSLs
Value that DSLs can provide to make commercial software products extensible and customizable
Advantages and disadvantages of DSLs compared to APIs
Practical example for the use of a DSL in a cloud-based SaaS software product (data-driven business application)
Examples for tools and techniques that make it easier to implement DSLs
Showcase for a real-world architecture of a system that offers a DSL to power users (based on Microsoft .NET technology)
Discussion of hurdles and effort in a real-world commercial software project with a DSL
Software architects
Senior developers
Product managers

About the Speaker

The speaker is co-founder and CEO of an ISV and has been serving this role since 2008. At this company the speaker and his team are developing an award-winning cloud-based SaaS solution. Previously, the speaker founded and led two IT consulting firms that worked in the area of developing software solution based on the Microsoft technology stack.

The speaker is recognized as an expert concerning .NET development, software architecture and database management. He has written numerous books and articles on C#, database development, Windows Azure, WPF, and Silverlight. In 2010 he has been nominated to a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for the cloud-computing platform Windows Azure. Additionally he regularly speaks at conferences, workshops and trainings in Europe and the US.

The speaker graduated the Higher Technical School Leonding (AT) for MIS with honors and holds a BSc (Hons) Computer Studies of the University of Derby (UK).

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