Usa-DSL Fundamental Principles

The Usa-DSL Process was designed based on the following principles:

• Supporting: to assist the performing of usability evaluation in a practical and efficient way;

Supporting Analyst, Developers, and Testers, when it comes to evaluating the usability of DSLs, is essential for them to be increasingly accepted by end users.

Therefore, the construction a process that assists in the development of these usability evaluations and brings a language closer to the field of Software Engineering approximated to the knowledge of usability testing and heuristic evaluation, are fundamental to the success of the developed DSL. Thus, an effective evaluation should aligns the interests of the project participants and the understanding of such evaluations.

• Continuous Feedback: to assist DSL development through constant feedback, promoting continuous improvement of the language

The Usa-Dsl Process seeks through an iterative cycle to adopt a systematic approach to obtain frequent usability feedback in the shortest time possible, to the DSL development group, to better monitor its impact [Barisic:2011] always thinking about the continuous improvement of language. For this we seek the integration of two complementary processes, language development and usability evaluation.

• User-Centered Evaluation: through all the building phases, minimizing the DSL rework and disuse [Nielsen:1990]

“The User-centered design (UCD) process outlines the phases throughout a design and development life-cycle all while focusing on gaining a deep understanding of who will be using the product.” [Usability.gov]

When you focus on the user and not the product, you learn what works for your users, as well as what doesn't work, what pleases, and what frustrates them.  [Barnaun:2011]

• Productivity: to make DSLs evaluation easier and productive, aiming to reach usability criteria and usage satisfaction [Sinha:2006]

The Usa-DSL Process is considered easier and more productive because its structure is designed for evaluators who do not know the IHC field and has the need to perform usability evaluations.From this concern was developed this process with a language closer to the Software Engineering field, thus seeking to make this activity more productive.For this reason the Usa-DSL was developed using a user-centered design (an explicit understanding of users, tasks, and environments), seeking to achieve the criteria of usability and satisfaction of use.