Language workbench

A language workbench^[1]^[2] is a software development tool designed to define, reuse and compose domain-specific languages together with their integrated development environment. Language workbenches support language-oriented programming. Language workbenches were introduced and popularized by Martin Fowler in 2005.

Language workbenches usually support:^[1]

Specification of the language concepts or metamodel
Specification of the editing environments for the domain-specific language
Specification of the execution semantics, e.g. through interpretation and code generation

Examples

JetBrains MPS is a tool for designing domain-specific languages. It uses projectional editing which allows overcoming the limits of language parsers, and building DSL editors, such as ones with tables and diagrams. It implements language-oriented programming. MPS combines an environment for language definition, a language workbench, and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for such languages.^[3]

Xtext is an open-source software framework for developing programming languages and domain-specific languages (DSLs). Unlike standard parser generators, Xtext generates not only a parser, but also a class model for the abstract syntax tree. In addition, it provides a fully featured, customizable Eclipse-based IDE.^[4]

Kermeta is an open-source academic language workbench. ^[5] The Kermeta workbench uses three different meta-languages: one meta-language for the abstract syntax (aligned with Emof); one for the static semantics (aligned with OCL) and one for the behavioral semantics (called the Kermeta Language itself).

^ ^a ^b Fowler, Martin. "LanguageWorkbench". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ Fowler, Martin (12 June 2005). "Language Workbenches: The Killer-App for Domain Specific Languages?". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ "JetBrains MPS: Domain-Specific Language Creator".
^ "Xtext".
^ Jézéquel, Jean-Marc; Combemale, Benoit; Barais, Olivier; Monperrus, Martin; Fouquet, François (2013). "Mashup of metalanguages and its implementation in the Kermeta language workbench" (PDF). Software & Systems Modeling. 14 (2): 905–920. doi:10.1007/s10270-013-0354-4.

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