Decoupling Language and Editor - The Impact of the Language Server Protocol on Textual Domain-Specific Languages

Hendrik Bünder

2019

Abstract

Model-Driven Software Development using Domain-Specific Languages (DSL) has been widely adopted throughout research and industry. The language workbenches required to efficiently build Domain-Specific Languages and the associated editor support are often deeply integrated into a specific Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Thereby, the chosen Domain-Specific Language workbench predicts the IDE required to use the DSL. Yet, this IDE might not be the best choice for further implementing, testing, and debugging the generated code. A case study was conducted to analyze how the Language Server Protocol could be utilized to decouple the DSL implementation from a specific editor integrated into an IDE. First, the Language Server Protocol capabilities are exemplified by building editor support for an Entity-DSL that is integrated into two different IDEs. Second, a SWOT analysis is carried out to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats for Domain-Specific Languages utilizing the Language Server Protocol. The case study’s results indicate that the Language Server Protocol enables efficient multi-editor integration. Further, the results of the SWOT analysis imply potential benefits for cross-functional teams specifying a shared domain model.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Bünder H. (2019). Decoupling Language and Editor - The Impact of the Language Server Protocol on Textual Domain-Specific Languages.In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD, ISBN 978-989-758-358-2, pages 131-142. DOI: 10.5220/0007556301310142

in Bibtex Style

@conference{modelsward19,
author={Hendrik Bünder},
title={Decoupling Language and Editor - The Impact of the Language Server Protocol on Textual Domain-Specific Languages},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD,},
year={2019},
pages={131-142},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0007556301310142},
isbn={978-989-758-358-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development - Volume 1: MODELSWARD,
TI - Decoupling Language and Editor - The Impact of the Language Server Protocol on Textual Domain-Specific Languages
SN - 978-989-758-358-2
AU - Bünder H.
PY - 2019
SP - 131
EP - 142
DO - 10.5220/0007556301310142