Language

This section presents the RIDDL source language syntax, one definition at a time according to their typical arrangement.

Warning

This section of the documentation has not been maintained well and is due for re-synchronization with the concepts section

RIDDL is not a Turing complete language. However, it is intended to be used to create systems that are Turing complete. Consequently, RIDDL is not a programming language, it is a system specification language, and not only at software developers.

We expected business managers, business analysts, knowledge domain experts, system architects, and software developers to all be able to read and comprehend RIDDL models with only a little training and DDD background. The language tries hard to be readable in English and not overly technical while still retaining the ability to be precise, concise, and specific enough to be used for software source code generation.

The language is opinionated in the sense that it is intended for the specification of large scale distributed software systems. It does not attempt to be useful for every kind of computing problem nor even every kind of knowledge domain. Several distributed software architecture patterns have been adopted as natural extensions of domain driven design. Data engineering and user interface ideas are also included.

We recommend that you first read the Language Conventions (not documentation conventions!) to which RIDDL adheres. These conventions are aimed at making RIDDL models consistent, simple, and free of special cases and exceptions.

Next, there are several concepts that are used in a variety of places in the language. The Common section describes these concepts in preparation for looking at the major definitions in the language.

RIDDL’s basic structure is a containment hierarchy of nested definitions. That is, definitions are defined by their contained definitions. At the root of that definitional hierarchy is a single file known as the root file. The name of this file is given to riddlc to start processing a specification.

So, we can explore and learn the RIDDL language by examining each level of the definitional hierarchy like peeling the layers of an onion to discover what is hidden at each level.

Start with the Root.