A tool specification language for software maintenance

Abstract

A modified attribute-grammar language, to be used for specifying tools in a software maintenance environment, is proposed. This language is called Tool Specification Language (TSL). TSL allows an orderly sharing of specifications between different tools. It also allows the sharing of computed attribute values between different tools. For a suite of related tools that would support the maintenance programmer, using TSL as the specification language would result in a concise, shared specification. There would also be the benefit of less memory space and faster tool execution when computed attribute values are shared.<>