Streamlining the Development of Hybrid Graphical-Textual Model Editors for Domain-Specific Languages

By: Ionut Predoaia, Dimitris Kolovos, Matthias Lenk, Antonio García-Domínguez

Abstract

A domain-specific language (DSL) can have multiple syntaxes, that can be graphical or textual. When modelling the behaviour, complex expressions, and fine details of a domain, often it does not make sense to use a graphical syntax, as this can result in large, crowded diagrams, therefore in such cases, a textual syntax is often more appropriate. As such, the best of both worlds can be delivered by a DSL that has hybrid (part-graphical and part-textual) syntaxes. In this work, we address open challenges and apply model-driven engineering techniques to streamline the development of hybrid graphical-textual model editors for DSLs, by using as little hand-written code as possible.

Keywords

Domain-Specific Language, Model Editor, Graphical-Textual Modelling, Language Engineering, Code Generation, EMF, Sirius, Xtext.

Cite as:

Ionut Predoaia, Dimitris Kolovos, Matthias Lenk, Antonio García-Domínguez, “Streamlining the Development of Hybrid Graphical-Textual Model Editors for Domain-Specific Languages”, Journal of Object Technology, Volume 22, no. 2 (July 2023), pp. 2:1-14, doi:10.5381/jot.2023.22.2.a8.