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Programming tools are increasingly integral to research and analysis in myriad domains, including specialized areas with no formal relation to computer science. Embedded domain-specific languages (eDSLs) have the potential to serve these programmers while placing relatively light implementation burdens on language designers. However, barriers to eDSL use reduce their practical value and adoption. In this paper, we aim to deepen our understanding of how programmers use eDSLs and identify user needs to inform future eDSL designs. We performed a contextual inquiry (9 participants) with domain experts using Mimi, an eDSL for climate change economics modeling. A thematic analysis identified five key themes, including: the interaction between the eDSL and the host language has significant and sometimes unexpected impacts on eDSL user experience, and users preferentially engage with domain-specific communities and code templates rather than host language resources. The needs uncovered in our study offer design considerations for future eDSLs and suggest directions for future DSL usability research. 

DAVID POPP, FRANCESCO VONA, GIOVANNI MARIN and ZIQIAO CHEN: “The Employment Impact of a Green Fiscal Push: Evidence from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “ Comments by Gabriel Chodorow-Reich and Valerie A. Ramey and General Discussion SHELBY R. BUCKMAN, LAURA Y. CHOI, MARY C. DALY and LILY M. SEITELMAN: “The Economic Gains from Equity” Comments by Nicole Fortin and Erik Hurst and General Discussion SUSAN CHERRY, ERICA JIANG, GREGOR MATVOS, TOMASZ PISKORSKI and AMIT SERU: “Government and Private Household Debt Relief during COVID-19” Comments by Pascal Noel and Susan Wachter and General Discussion KEVIN RENNERT, BRIAN C. PREST, WILLIAM A. PIZER, RICHARD G. NEWELL, DAVID ANTHOFF, CORA KINGDON, LISA RENNELS, ROGER COOKE, ADRIAN E. RAFTERY, HANA ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and FRANK ERRICKSON: “The Social Cost of Carbon: Advances in Long-Term Probabilistic Projections of Population, GDP, Emissions, and Discount Rates" RICARDO REIS: “Losing the Inflation Anchor” Comments by Alan S. Blinder and Yuriy Gorodnichenko and General Discussion DAVID AUTOR, DAVID DORN and GORDON HANSON: “On the Persistence of the China Shock “ Comments by Marianne Bertrand and Edward Glaeser and General Discussion 

1. DAVID POPP, FRANCESCO VONA, GIOVANNI MARIN and ZIQIAO CHEN: “The Employment Impact of a Green Fiscal Push: Evidence from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “ Comments by Gabriel Chodorow-Reich and Valerie A. Ramey and General Discussion SHELBY R. BUCKMAN, LAURA Y. CHOI, MARY C. DALY and LILY M. SEITELMAN: “The Economic Gains from Equity” Comments by Nicole Fortin and Erik Hurst and General Discussion SUSAN CHERRY, ERICA JIANG, GREGOR MATVOS, TOMASZ PISKORSKI and AMIT SERU: “Government and Private Household Debt Relief during COVID-19” Comments by Pascal Noel and Susan Wachter and General Discussion KEVIN RENNERT, BRIAN C. PREST, WILLIAM A. PIZER, RICHARD G. NEWELL, DAVID ANTHOFF, CORA KINGDON, LISA RENNELS, ROGER COOKE, ADRIAN E. RAFTERY, HANA ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and FRANK ERRICKSON: “The Social Cost of Carbon: Advances in Long-Term Probabilistic Projections of Population, GDP, Emissions, and Discount Rates" RICARDO REIS: “Losing the Inflation Anchor” Comments by Alan S. Blinder and Yuriy Gorodnichenko and General Discussion DAVID AUTOR, DAVID DORN and GORDON HANSON: “On the Persistence of the China Shock “ Comments by Marianne Bertrand and Edward Glaeser and General Discussion 

1. DAVID POPP, FRANCESCO VONA, GIOVANNI MARIN and ZIQIAO CHEN: “The Employment Impact of a Green Fiscal Push: Evidence from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “ Comments by Gabriel Chodorow-Reich and Valerie A. Ramey and General Discussion SHELBY R. BUCKMAN, LAURA Y. CHOI, MARY C. DALY and LILY M. SEITELMAN: “The Economic Gains from Equity” Comments by Nicole Fortin and Erik Hurst and General Discussion SUSAN CHERRY, ERICA JIANG, GREGOR MATVOS, TOMASZ PISKORSKI and AMIT SERU: “Government and Private Household Debt Relief during COVID-19” Comments by Pascal Noel and Susan Wachter and General Discussion KEVIN RENNERT, BRIAN C. PREST, WILLIAM A. PIZER, RICHARD G. NEWELL, DAVID ANTHOFF, CORA KINGDON, LISA RENNELS, ROGER COOKE, ADRIAN E. RAFTERY, HANA ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and FRANK ERRICKSON: “The Social Cost of Carbon: Advances in Long-Term Probabilistic Projections of Population, GDP, Emissions, and Discount Rates" RICARDO REIS: “Losing the Inflation Anchor” Comments by Alan S. Blinder and Yuriy Gorodnichenko and General Discussion DAVID AUTOR, DAVID DORN and GORDON HANSON: “On the Persistence of the China Shock “ Comments by Marianne Bertrand and Edward Glaeser and General Discussion