# From a Natural to a Formal Language with DSL Assistant

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.09766 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.09766/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 19 Aug 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Validating Network Protocol Parsers with Traceable RFC Document Interpretation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.18050/) (2025)
- [Natural Language Interaction with Databases on Edge Devices in the Internet of Battlefield Things](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.06396/) (2025)
- [Model-Driven Quantum Code Generation Using Large Language Models and Retrieval-Augmented Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.21097/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The development of domain-specific languages (DSLs) is a laborious and iterative process that seems to naturally lean to the use of generative artificial intelligence. We design and prototype DSL Assistant, a tool that integrates generative language models to support the development of DSLs. DSL Assistant uses OpenAI's assistant API with GPT-4o to generate DSL grammars and example instances. To reflect real-world use, DSL Assistant supports several different interaction modes for evolving a DSL design, and includes automatic error repair. Our experiments show that DSL Assistant helps users to create and modify DSLs. However, the quality of the generated DSLs depends on the specific domain and the followed interaction patterns.