Version 1
: Received: 8 October 2024 / Approved: 8 October 2024 / Online: 9 October 2024 (08:35:48 CEST)
How to cite:
Willrich Lutalo, J. Programming Language Engineering—a Review of Text Processing Language Design, Implementation and Evaluation Methods. Preprints2024, 2024100636. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0636.v1
Willrich Lutalo, J. Programming Language Engineering—a Review of Text Processing Language Design, Implementation and Evaluation Methods. Preprints 2024, 2024100636. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0636.v1
Willrich Lutalo, J. Programming Language Engineering—a Review of Text Processing Language Design, Implementation and Evaluation Methods. Preprints2024, 2024100636. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0636.v1
APA Style
Willrich Lutalo, J. (2024). Programming Language Engineering—a Review of Text Processing Language Design, Implementation and Evaluation Methods. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0636.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Willrich Lutalo, J. 2024 "Programming Language Engineering—a Review of Text Processing Language Design, Implementation and Evaluation Methods" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.0636.v1
Abstract
Programming languages drive most if not all of modern problem- solving using computational methods and power. Research into new programming languages and methods is essential to the furthering or improvement of computational problem-solving by making the design, implementation, and application of automation to general or particu- lar problem-solving ever easier, more accessible, and more performant. General-purpose Programming Languages (GPLs) typically are designed to be purely domain agnostic—meaning they can be applied in any field, for any kind of problem. However, this typically also makes them hard and difficult to apply in problems where non-programmers or even ex- perts with little or no GPL programming skills are required to leverage programmatic problem solving capabilities, which is why Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) come into play; they are generally more fine-tuned to- wards improving human productivity and performance than that of the machine, while making solving particular, domain-oriented problems sim- pler. In this paper, we review the literature concerning how to design and then fully implement a new DSL, with special focus on a DSL for generic problem-solving leveraging Text Processing methods—essentially, a Text Processing Language (TPL). We consider leveraging the design research paradigm and philosophy as a systematic framework for guiding research into the development of new TPLs. This work presents for the first time, new unifying theory concerning general, but also TPL-specific language engineering theory and guiding frameworks—UPLT, PLEF & PLEf. We consider quantitative but also qualitative evaluation of programming lan- guages. The SOE framework is re-introduced for this purpose too. Finally, we set the pace for future theoretical and practical research into the field of programming language engineering especially with focus on TPLs.
Keywords
Programming Language Engineering; Language Design; Language Implementation; Language Evaluation; Domain Specific Languages; Text Processing Languages; TEA
Subject
Computer Science and Mathematics, Software
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
