MontiCore: A Framework for the Development of Textual Domain Specific Languages

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate a framework for efficient development of textual domain specific languages and supporting tools. We use a redundance-free and compact definition of a readable concrete syntax and a comprehensible abstract syntax as both representations significantly overlap in their structure. To further improve the usability of the abstract syntax this definition format integrates additional concepts like associations and inheritance into the well-understood grammar-based approach. Modularity concepts like language inheritance and embedding are used to simplify the development of languages based on already existing ones. In addition, the generation of editors and a template approach for code generation is explained.