Framework for Domain-Specific Visual Languages

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Framework for Domain-Specific Visual Languages

• http//www.cis.uab.edu/info/OOPSLA-DSVL2/
• Juha-Pekka Tolvanen, Jeff Gray, Matti Rossi

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Modelling in domain terms vs. modelling your code
DomainIdea
FinishedProduct
Solve problem in domain terms
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Converging research areas

• Methods, CASE, metaCASE
• 50 use no method, 25 standard method, 25
  customised
• Visual Programming Languages
• Domain-specific approaches
• Textual DSL, Visual DSVL
• Product family engineering
• Code generation
• Generative template programming
• Models to code mostly structural, behaviour from
  state charts
• Components/patterns
• Raise level of abstraction
• Reuse by reference, not copy and paste
• Pattern languages

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Main benefits of DSVLs

• Fundamental productivity improvements (3-10
  times)
• Shorter intervals Fast
• Lower costs Cheap
• Better quality Good
• Faster change responsiveness
• Manage changes in domain instead of code
• Allows developers to design products with domain
  terms
• Apply familiar terminology
• Solve the RIGHT problems!
• Solve problems only ONCE!
• Leverage expertise inside the team
• Put the experts knowledge in a tool
• Hide domain complexity (DSVL includes domain
  rules)

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DSL Case Study USAF

• Development of message translation and validation
  system (MTV)
• Declarative domain-specific language
• code generators and customisation of components
• Compared DSL against component-based development
• DSL is 3 times faster than code components
• DSL leads to fewer errors about 50 less
• DSL gives superior flexibility in handling a
  greater range of specifications than components

Kieburtz et al., A Software Engineering
Experiment in Software Component Generation,
ICSE, 1996
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DSVL Case Study Lucent

• 5ESS Phone Switch and several DS(V)Ls
• Reported productivity improvements of about 3-10
  times
• From several cases
• From several DSLs
• DSVLs out-performed DSLs
• Shorter intervals between product releases
• Improved consistency across product variants
• DSL should be used always if more than 3
  variants

D. Weiss et al, Software Product-Line
Engineering, Addison-Wesley, 1999
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DSVL Case Study Nokia

• DSVL and related code generators for mobile
  phone
• Order of magnitude productivity gains (10x)
• "A module that was expected to take 2 weeks...
  took 1 day from the start of the design to the
  finished product"
• Focus on designs rather than code
• Domain-oriented method allows developers to
  concentrate on the required functionality
• Training time was reduced significantly
• Earlier it took 6 months for a new worker to
  become productive. Now it takes 2 weeks

MetaCase, Nokia case study, 1999
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How to implement a DSVL
DomainIdea
FinishedProduct
Easy!
Generate callsto components
DSVLModel
Normal (many)
Components
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Apply in software production

• Develop applications using the DSVL
  infrastructure
• Continuously evolve your DSVL
• Domain platforms evolve

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Further information www.metacase.com/dsm.html

• Experience reports
• Honeywell
• NASA
• Nokia
• Pecunet
• LexiFi
• DuPont
• Lucent
• USAF

• Related events
• OOPSLA01 Workshop on Domain-Specific Visual
  Languages
• HCC IEEE Symposium on Human-Centric Computing
  Languages and Environments
• GT-VMT '02 International Workshop on Graph
  Transformation and Visual Modeling Techniques
• ECOOP00 Workshop on Model Engineering

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Thank you!
Questions or comments?
MetaCase Consulting Ylistönmäentie 31 FIN - 40500
Jyväskylä, Finland Phone [phone], Fax
358 14 4451 405 email jpt_at_metacase.com
http//www.metacase.com