Pure and declarative syntax definition

Paradise lost and regained

Report (2010)
Department
Software Technology (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2010 The Author(s) . Software Engineering Research Group, Department of Software Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft University of Technology
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Published Date

31-12-2010

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Technical Report Series TUD-SERG-2010-019

Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Software Technology

Abstract

Syntax definitions are pervasive in modern software systems, and serve as the basis for language processing tools like parsers and compilers. Mainstream parser generators pose restrictions on syntax definitions that follow from their implementation algorithm. They hamper evolution, maintainability, and compositionality of syntax definitions. The pureness and declarativity of syntax definitions is lost. We analyze how these problems arise for different aspects of syntax definitions, discuss their consequences for language engineers, and show how the pure and declarative nature of syntax definitions can be regained Preprint accepted for publication in Proceedings of Onward!, Tahoe (USA), 17-21 Oct. 2010