Separation of Concerns in Multi-language Specifications

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Damaševičius, Robertas | Štuikys, Vytautas

Affiliations: Software Engineering Department, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų 50, 3031 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: damarobe@soften.ktu.lt, vytautas.stuikys@if.ktu.lt

Abstract: We present an analysis of the separation of concerns in multi-language design and multi-language specifications. The basis for our analysis is the paradigm of the multi-dimensional separation of concerns, which claims that multiple dimensions of concerns in a design should be implemented independently. Multi-language specifications are specifications where different concerns of a design are implemented using separate languages as follows. (1) Target language(s) implement domain functionality. (2) External (or scripting, meta-) language(s) implement generalisation of the repetitive design features, introduce variations, and integrate components into a design. We present case studies and experimental results for the application of the multi-language specifications in hardware design.

Keywords: multi-language design, separation of concerns, meta-programming, scripting, hardware design

DOI: 10.3233/INF-2002-13301

Journal: Informatica, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 255-274, 2002