Development of Custom Notation for XML-based Language: a Model-Driven Approach

Sergej Chodarev1 and Jaroslav Porubän1

  1. Technical University of Košice, Department of Computers and Informatics
    Letná 9, Košice, Slovakia
    {sergej.chodarev, jaroslav.poruban}@tuke.sk

Abstract

In spite of its popularity, XML provides poor user experience and a lot of domain-specific languages can be improved by introducing custom, more humanfriendly notation. This paper presents an approach for design and development of the custom notation for existing XML-based language together with a translator between the new notation and XML. The approach supports iterative design of the language concrete syntax, allowing its modification based on users feedback. The translator is developed using a model-driven approach. It is based on explicit representation of language abstract syntax (metamodel) that can be augmented with mappings to both XML and the custom notation. We provide recommendations for application of the approach and demonstrate them on a case study of a language for definition of graphs.

Key words

domain-specific languages, human-computer interaction, iterative design, model-driven development, translator, XML

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS170116036C

Publication information

Volume 14, Issue 3 (September 2017)
Advances in Information Technology, Distributed and Model Driven Systems
Year of Publication: 2017
ISSN: 2406-1018 (Online)
Publisher: ComSIS Consortium

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How to cite

Chodarev, S., Porubän, J.: Development of Custom Notation for XML-based Language: a Model-Driven Approach. Computer Science and Information Systems, Vol. 14, No. 3, 939–958. (2017), https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS170116036C