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<p>Domain-specific languages (DSLs) are an efficient means to counter accidental complexity and are therefore a key technology for model-driven engineering (MDE). Despite the potential of DSLs, there is a lack of empirical research on the practical effects and developer perception of DSL-driven tools. In this paper, we present a controlled experiment with 28 participants around a previously developed DSL- and MDE-based toolchain, which assists the migration of legacy software to REST. We compare the developer performance for (a) “<i>DSL+MDE toolchain</i>" and (b) “<i>classic manual software migration</i>" analysing and quantifying the effects of the DSL, as well as the perception of the DSL by the developers. In certain cases, we measured a significant correlation between toolchain use and performance gains for developers. Detailed analysis of developer activities suggests that the DSL toolchain alleviates tasks which are error-prone or time-consuming in the manual alternative. We then extracted acceptance-hindering factors from the feedback of the participants and derived a series of recommendations for MDE practitioners who seek to develop DSL-based tools.</p>

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REST in pieces: a controlled experiment to dissect the effects of a domain-specific language for code to cloud API migration

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月15日

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  • Maximilian Schiedermeier,
  • Bettina Kemme,
  • Jörg Kienzle

摘要

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) are an efficient means to counter accidental complexity and are therefore a key technology for model-driven engineering (MDE). Despite the potential of DSLs, there is a lack of empirical research on the practical effects and developer perception of DSL-driven tools. In this paper, we present a controlled experiment with 28 participants around a previously developed DSL- and MDE-based toolchain, which assists the migration of legacy software to REST. We compare the developer performance for (a) “DSL+MDE toolchain" and (b) “classic manual software migration" analysing and quantifying the effects of the DSL, as well as the perception of the DSL by the developers. In certain cases, we measured a significant correlation between toolchain use and performance gains for developers. Detailed analysis of developer activities suggests that the DSL toolchain alleviates tasks which are error-prone or time-consuming in the manual alternative. We then extracted acceptance-hindering factors from the feedback of the participants and derived a series of recommendations for MDE practitioners who seek to develop DSL-based tools.