LEESA: Embedding Strategic and XPath-Like Object Structure Traversals in C++

Traversals of heterogeneous object structures are the most common operations in schema-first applications where the three key issues are (1) separation of traversal specifications from type-specific actions, (2) expressiveness and reusability of traversal specifications, and (3) supporting structure-shy traversal specifications that require minimal adaptation in the face of schema evolution. This paper presents Language for Embedded quEry and traverSAl (LEESA), which provides a generative programming approach to address the above issues. LEESA is an object structure traversal language embedded in C++. Using C++ templates, LEESA combines the expressiveness of XPath's axes-oriented traversal notation with the genericity and programmability of Strategic Programming. LEESA uses the object structure metainformation to statically optimize the traversals and check their compatibility against the schema. Moreover, a key usability issue of domainspecific error reporting in embedded DSL lan...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: DSL
• Authors: Sumant Tambe, Aniruddha S. Gokhale
• Keywords: DSL 2009, Object Structure, Programming Languages, Traversal, Traversal Specifications