Automating the Development of Syntax Tree Generators for an Evolving Language

This paper describes an Ei el system for rapid testing of grammars. Grammars are de ned in an extended BNF notation that allows actions on the parse tree nodes to be de ned as additional annotations. The actions are high level descriptions (not procedural code) to transform a parse tree into a syntax tree. A parser, producing a syntax tree for a language sentence, can be automatically generated from the annotated grammar as a set of classes. The object-oriented environment permits a much higher degree of separation between syntax and semantics than is possible with traditional approaches. Structural grammar changes can be made without a ecting already developed semantic routines. This gives a great advantage for early compiler implementations, when the language syntax is still evolving.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1992
• Where: TOOLS
• Authors: Per Grape, Kim Walden
• Keywords: Parse Tree, Parse Tree Nodes, Programming Languages, Syntax Tree, TOOLS 1992