Usa-DSL: a Process for Usability Evaluation of Domain-Specific Languages

Software architects and developers often use Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) to model or code applications. However, designing a DSL that effectively represents its domain can be a challenge, potentially contributing to poor uptake and usage. To the best of our knowledge, one issue is that DSL designers may evaluate their language’s usability using ad hoc processes, due to a lack of expertise in usability evaluation. Additionally, current approaches lack well-defined processes and may not yield the desired results for DSL designers. Therefore, DSL designers require a well-defined usability evaluation process to assess how architects, developers, and end users perceive their DSL. This paper introduces Usa-DSL, a Usability Evaluation Process for Domain-Specific Languages. Usa-DSL aims to assist DSL designers in evaluating their languages in terms of ease and quality of use, without requiring deep knowledge of usability evaluation. We analyze the feasibility of Usa-DSL and show that it is a useful and user-friendly tool for evaluating DSLs.