Computer‐aided production of language implementation systems: A review and classification

Abstract

The paper gives a classification of methods for producing translators, interpreters, and macroprocessors using source language, written language, and object language as characteristics. Possible configurations of these characteristics are discussed and documented with examples.The paper starts with definitions of the terms used. It then presents the tools that are used for the description. These are the so-called T-diagrams, which are used to describe translators and interpreters, and some kind of flow-charts, indicating the steps in the production of a translator or interpreter from a given configuration to a final product.The next chapters of the paper give the classification of the possible and meaningful elementary configurations. Important and well known special cases are mentioned with examples. Further it is shown how these elementary cases are combined to a whole implementation system. Especially mentioned is self-compilation. The final section gives some examples of actual implementation systems and their evaluation.

Axiomatic bootstrapping

“…Lecarme et al [1982] present a good explanation of a theory of bootstrapping using T-diagrams, a notation invented by Bratman [1961] and formalized by Earley and Sturgis [1970]. This theory is simple and elegant, and the diagrams are pretty to look at.…”

Bootstrapping domain-specific meta-languages in language workbenches

“…Tombstone diagrams (also called T-diagrams) are a graphical notation for reasoning about translators (compilers), first introduced in [3] and extended with interpreters and machines in [6]. T-diagrams are most commonly used to describe bootstrapping, cross-compilation, and other processes that require executing complex chains of compilers, interpreters, and machines [20]. T-diagrams are a useful tool for graphically reasoning about compilers and bootstrapping, orthogonal to the bootstrapping framework presented in this paper.…”

Bootstrapping domain-specific meta-languages in language workbenches

“…T-diagrams are most commonly used to describe bootstrapping, cross-compilation, and other processes that require executing complex chains of compilers, interpreters, and machines [20]. T-diagrams are a useful tool for graphically reasoning about compilers and bootstrapping, orthogonal to the bootstrapping framework presented in this paper.…”