Architecture DSLs are a useful tool to capture the cornerstones of platform or product line architectures. In addition, interesting analyses can be performed on the models, and much of the infrastructure and configuration code can be generated. On the flip side, these DSLs themselves must be architected consciously: while many architectural abstractions are specific to any given platform or product line, many other aspects are generic and hence can be reused for several architecture DSLs. In this talk I trace how my thinking on architecture modeling has changed over time, and how this is reflected in the architecture DSLs I have built (or helped to build), and how evolving tools have made these changes possible.
Markus Völter works as an independent researcher, consultant and coach for itemis AG in Stuttgart, Germany. His focus is on software architecture, model-driven software development and domain specific languages as well as on product line engineering. Markus also regularly writes (articles, patterns, books) and speaks (trainings, conferences) on those subjects. Markus will also give a keynote at ECSA'14