Abstract
Language embedding is a method to implement a new language within the framework of an existing programming language. This method is known to speed up the development process compared to standalone languages using classical compiler technology. On the other hand, embedded languages may not be that convenient for the end-users as standalone ones with own concrete syntax. This paper describes a method that uses the flexibility of language embedding in the experimental phase of the language design process, then, once the language features are mature enough, adds concrete syntax and turns the language to a standalone one. Lessons learnt from a project, run in industry-university cooperation and using the presented method, are discussed. Based on these results, a cost model is established that can be used to estimate the potential benefits of this method in case of future language design projects.
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Notes
- 1.
In this project we have been using Subversion.
- 2.
Note that this project was entirely implemented in Haskell, which allows much more concise code than the mainstream imperative, object oriented languages.
- 3.
We have been using the Parsec parser combinator library [10] of Haskell. Using context free grammars instead would have resulted in similar code size.
- 4.
“Wadler’s Law: The emotional intensity of debate on a language feature increases as one moves down the following scale: Semantics, Syntax, Lexical syntax, Comments.” (Philiph Wadler in the Haskell mailing list, February 1992, see [13].)
- 5.
The unit of measure can be anything from files to characters. Our statistics use lines.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the support of Ericsson Hungary and the grant EITKIC 12-1-2012-0001 that is supported by the Hungarian Government, managed by the National Development Agency, and financed by the Research and Technology Innovation Fund.
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Dévai, G., Leskó, D., Tejfel, M. (2014). Language Design and Implementation via the Combination of Embedding and Parsing. In: Cordeiro, J., van Sinderen, M. (eds) Software Technologies. ICSOFT 2013. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 457. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44920-2_9
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