Understanding DSLs
A DSL is a computer language specialized for a particular application domain. Unlike a general-purpose language (GPL) such as Kotlin, Java, or Python, which is designed to solve a wide array of problems, a DSL is tailored for a specific set of tasks or a particular domain.
There are generally two types of DSLs:
- External DSLs: These are languages parsed independently of the host GPL. They have their own syntax, parser, and often, an interpreter or compiler. Examples include SQL (for database queries), HTML (for web page structure), or regular expressions. Creating external DSLs is a significant undertaking, requiring expertise in language design and parsing technologies. Another example is how a Kotlin DSL is used for writing Gradle configuration scripts.
- Internal DSLs (or embedded DSLs): These are created within an existing GPL. An internal DSL is essentially a particular way of using the host language, leveraging its syntax and features to...
