[news.eclipse.technology.ldt] Focus on DSLs: Domain-Specific Languages,

["Chris Laffra" <Chris_Laffra@xxxxxxxxxx>]

During EclipseCON we held a BOF on Language Toolkits (see my other posting
in this group).
In addition, a BOF was held on "Dynamic Languages".
Based on the outcome of both BOFs, some of us really would like to see
activities under the LDT structured in different focal sub-projects (not in
any particular order):

+ Java-based languages sub-project
Find out how to reuse AST in similar Java-based languages (JSPs, etc.). This
sub-project would study the area as originally proposed by BEA

+ Parser tools.
Collect eclipse plug-ins for Lex+Yacc, JavaCC, Antlr, JikesPG, Bison, etc.
etc. Standardize on AST interfaces so that parsers are exchangeable.

+ Dynamic Languages.
Generic support for dynamically typed languages (LISP, PHP, Python, Jython,
Ruby, Groovy, etc). Study and support type inferencing algorithms, code
generation, interpreter design, etc.

+ Editor frameworks.
Based on ASTs, provide tools/wizards to generate editors, hover help,
outline views, etc to quick-start small and modest IDEs.

+ Makefile-based Languages.
Standardize on support for languages that have a 'make' style of building
programs (C, C++, Fortran, etc).

It will be hard to make the above classification orthogonal, and my proposal
here is just to start off a discussion.

-- 
Chris Laffra, http://eclipsefaq.org