Re: [Swarm-Modelling] Announce: metaABM 1.0.0

[Marcus G. Daniels]

Hi Miles,

Many configurable apps that use XML or similar (e.g. Interface Builder 
NIB files) provide little more functionality than a way to hook up a 
fixed set of parts together.  That simplification is often useful, 
especially when the domain is well understood and the underlying 
language for making components is commonly used.  But if that 
configuration language is a modeling language, and the underlying 
language (or toolkit) is considered a black box, then the situation is 
more troubling because the domain of use gets radically limited. 

Domain specific languages don't have to have this property.   Lisp 
macros provide one way to make a DSL, where users can step outside that 
abstract language as needed.   Some implementations like Dr. Scheme even 
provide different default levels of language/API exposure for teaching 
contexts so that users cannot accidentally step outside a prescribed 
dialect (DSL).

Marcus