Learn to build configuration file readers, data readers, model-driven code generators, source-to-source translators, source analyzers, and interpreters. You don't need a background in computer science--ANTLR creator Terence Parr demystifies language implementation by breaking it down into the most common design patterns. Pattern by pattern, you'll learn the key skills you need to implement your own computer languages.
Knowing how to create domain-specific languages
(DSLs) can give you a huge productivity boost. Instead of writing code in a
general-purpose programming language, you can first build a custom language
tailored to make you efficient in a particular domain.
The key is understanding the common patterns
found across language implementations. Language Design Patterns identifies
and condenses the most common design patterns, providing sample implementations
of each.
The pattern implementations use Java, but the patterns themselves are completely general. Some of the implementations use the well-known ANTLR parser generator, so readers will find this book an excellent source of ANTLR examples as well. But this book will benefit anyone interested in implementing languages, regardless of their tool of choice. Other language implementation books focus on compilers, which you rarely need in your daily life. Instead, Language Design Patterns shows you patterns you can use for all kinds of language applications.
About the Author
Terence Parr is a professor of computer science and graduate program director at the University of San Francisco, where he continues to work on his ANTLR parser generator and template engine Terence has consulted for and held various technical positions at companies such as IBM, Lockheed Missiles and Space, NeXT and Renault Automation. Terence holds a Ph.D. in computer engineering from Purdue University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Army High-Performance Computing Research Center at the University of Minnesota, where he built parallelizing FORTRAN source-to-source translators. He is the author of "The Definitive ANTLR Reference".
