A Quick Introduction to Domain-Specific Modelling

The Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) introduced application designers to the concept of using different layers of models to capture design intent (PIM models) which could then be transformed to lower-level implementation models called PSMs.

However the MDA ideas have now expanded into include the idea of Domain Specific Languages.  Unlike general-purpose languages, domain specific languages, DSLs are small languages that have great expressive power of a particular domain.  This expressive power, which may be textual or graphical, enable users to write or model higher-level domain specific descriptions using the domain language.

Having written a program or model of an application in a DSL language code generators can be produced as part of the DSL that will convert the DSL model into an executable program containing the actual code, and any required mapping to required components, interfaces and libraries.

Traditionally developing new DSLs for new or existing domains is hard and very costly.  However with the introuction of Xactium’s XMF-Mosaic DSL development tool kit very powerful graphical and textual languages can easily be developed to solve a number of complex problems.

Vanguard Technologies uses XMF-Mosaic to provide additional tools and consultancy support for its Model-Based Testing and Complex Event Processing services.

Vanguard also provides consultancy services for those companies that are looking to use DSLs to solve some of their systems development needs.