1. Is “Higher Level” Better?
A programming language can be viewed as an interface to an abstract machine.
Assembly language is just the right abstraction for a CPU.
Why do some languages better match some applications than others?

2. We Need Domain Specificity
A domain-specific language (or DSL) is a language that precisely captures a domain semantics; no more, and no less.
We also need domain specific:
specifications (starting point!)
optimizations and transformations
software tools
type systems, aspects, constraints, etc.

3. Advantages of DSL Approach
Programs in the target domain are:
more concise
quicker to write
easier to maintain
easier to reason about
can often be written by non-programmers
Contribute to higher
programmer productivity
Dominant cost in
large SW systems
Verification, transform-
ation, optimization
These are the same arguments in favor of any high-level language. But in addition:
Helps bridge gap between
developer and user

4. The Bottom Line

5. DSL’s Allow Faster Prototyping
Using the “Spiral Model” of Software Development
design
specify
design
specify
build
test
build
test
Without DSL
With DSL