Bottom up creation of a DSL using templates and JSON

Abstract

This paper proposes a concept and a workbench that allow developers to devise various kinds of applications with the help of templates. The workbench supports the development from the creation of the templates up to the (automatic) generation of a DSL (Domain Specific Language), providing developers with a bottom up support that mirrors the top down MDE (Model Driven Engineering) attempt to bolster application development. Unlike usual RAD (Rapid Application Development) tools or wizards embedded in IDEs, the tool we propose is generic and independent of any platform (but of the IDE). By conception, it automatically takes into account the modifications and the new components into the subsequent phases of the development. These components are instantiated under the control of a specification structure (JSON objects, Javascript Standard Object Notation) from which the DSL and the corresponding compiler can be generated. The DSL can be used to extend the application, as well as to develop other applications that require similar presentations and operations.