Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Domain Specific Languages

Subject: Domain Specific Languages

Dr. Pournelle,

Here's an interesting video from PDC on a new tool that Microsoft built sort of by accident for defining and using textual domain-specific languages. Instead of writing raw XML or regular expressions, you can write context-free grammars and get free syntax highlighting and/or token checking (red squigglies like a spellchecker), plus structured data in the output. Basically, you can produce any structured data (like XML files, comma-separated values) from your own domain-specific language. It probably fits in the same niche as lex/yacc, gump, or the Boost Spirit parser. Some neat capabilities. Anyway, it's an interesting presentation if you can find 45 minutes.

-Max

--
"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

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