LITTLE LANGUAGES - LITTLE MAINTENANCE

So-called little, or domain-specific languages (DSLs), have the potent ial to make software maintenance simpler: domain experts can directly use the DSL to make required routine modifications. On the negative si de, however, more substantial changes may become more difficult: such changes may involve altering the domain-specific language. This will r equire compiler technology knowledge, which not every commercial enter prise has easily available, Based on experience taken from industrial practice, we discuss the role of DSLs in software maintenance, the dan gers introduced by using them, and techniques for controlling the risk s involved. (C) 1998 John Whey & Sons, Ltd.