Chapter 1. Implementing a DSL

In this chapter, we will provide a brief introduction on Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) and the issues concerning their implementation, especially in the context of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). In the initial part of the chapter, we will sketch the main tasks for implementing a DSL and its integration in an IDE. At the end of the chapter, we will also show you how to install Xtext and will give you a glimpse of what you can do with Xtext. It is an Eclipse framework for the development of DSLs that covers all aspects of a language implementation, including its integration in the Eclipse IDE.

This chapter will cover the following topics:

• An introduction to DSLs
• The main steps for implementing a DSL
• The typical IDE tooling for a DSL
• The very first demo of Xtext