An architecture for composing embedded domain-specific languages

Abstract

Embedded domain-specific languages (EDSLs) are said to be easier to compose than DSLs that are implemented by preprocessors. However, existing approaches focus on composition scenarios where the use of abstractions from one domain does not affect the interpretation of abstractions from another domain. This leads to programs that exhibit scattering and tangling symptoms if multiple EDSLs with crosscutting domain semantics are used. To address this issue, we propose an architecture for embedding DSLs that makes use of meta-object protocols and aspect-oriented concepts to support crosscutting composition of EDSLs. This enables to write modularized EDSL programs where each program addresses one concern.