DSLs for Product Lines: Approaches, Tools, Experiences

Domain-Specific Languages are languages narrowly focused on a particular problem domain. Compared to feature models they are more expressive, but possibly not as easy to use. Compared to source code, they are usually simpler, more targeted and hence easier to use - although not quite as flexible. DSLs can play an important role in PLE, filling the gap between configuration via feature models and low-level programming. This tutorial covers approaches, tools and experiences of using DSLs in PLE. I will start with briefly introducing DSLs and their role in PLE. We will then look at a real-world DSL that has been used to describe a product line of electrical devices. We will then spend some time extending a DSL built with Eclipse Xtext to get some hands-on tool experience. Then we will look at another DSL, one for robot control, that integrates nicely with feature models. We will then finally spend some time extending a DSL build with JetBrains MPS, before we wrap up the tutorial.