Domain-specific languages in Prolog for declarative expert knowledge in rules and ontologies. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seipel, Dietmar; Nogatz, Falco; Abreu, Salvador
• Is Part Of: Computer languages, systems & structures. Volume 51(2017)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Domain-specific language -- Expert knowledge -- Declarative rule -- Prolog -- Deductive database; Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Computer architecture -- Periodicals; Computer systems -- Periodicals; Langage de programmation; Réseau d'ordinateurs; Architecture d'ordinateur; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 005.13
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cl.2017.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8424

Abstract

Highlights: We use domain-specific languages and deductive databases for declarative rule bases. We present the design and implementation of DSLs for declarative expert rules in Prolog as an internal and as an external DSL. Our approach makes use of Prolog's term-expansion, definite clause grammars and quasi-quotations. The declarative expert knowledge in rules can be analysed, evaluated, and visualised. More general expert knowledge can be stated in rules and ontologies, rules and findings are extended by annotations and meta-information. Abstract: Declarative if–then rules have proven very useful in many applications of expert systems. They can be managed in deductive databases and evaluated using the well-known forward-chaining approach. For domain-experts, however, the syntax of rules becomes complicated quickly, and already many different knowledge representation formalisms exist. Expert knowledge is often acquired in story form using interviews. In this paper, we discuss its representation by defining domain-specific languages (Dsl s) for declarative expert rules. They can be embedded inProlog systems in internalDsl s using term expansion and as externalDsl s using definite clause grammars and quasi-quotations – for more sophisticated syntaxes. Based on the declarative rules and the integration with theProlog -based deductive database systemDDbase, multiple rules acquired in practical case studies can be combined, compared, graphically analysed by domain-experts, and evaluated, resulting in an extensible system for expert knowledge. As a result, the actual modelingDsl becomes executable; the declarative forward-chaining evaluation of deductive databases can be understood by the domain experts. OurDsl for rules can be further improved by integrating ontologies and rule annotations.