| Pattern 21 | Domain-Specific Language |
Intent
To create a miniature programming language tailored to solve a specific problem
Overview
Domain-Specific Language is a very common pattern that has two broad classes: external DSL and internal DSL.
An external DSL is a full-blown programming language with its own syntax and compiler. It’s not intended for general use; rather, it solves some targeted problems. For instance, SQL is an instance of Domain-Specific Language targeted at data manipulation. ANTLR is another, targeted at creating parsers.
On the other hand, we’ve got internal DSLs, also known as embedded languages. These instances of the pattern piggyback on some general-purpose language and live within the constraints of the host language’s ...
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