Browse Library
Sign In Start Free Trial
Close icon Search icon
Account
Browse Library Advanced Search Sign In Start Free Trial

Add to playlist

Create a Playlist

Modal Close icon
You need to login to use this feature.
  • Groovy for Domain-Specific Languages, Second Edition
  • Toc
  • feedback
Groovy for Domain-Specific Languages, Second Edition

Groovy for Domain-Specific Languages, Second Edition

By : Dearle
4.7 (3)
close
Groovy for Domain-Specific Languages, Second Edition

Groovy for Domain-Specific Languages, Second Edition

4.7 (3)
By: Dearle

Overview of this book

The times when developing on the JVM meant you were a Java programmer have long passed. The JVM is now firmly established as a polyglot development environment with many projects opting for alternative development languages to Java such as Groovy, Scala, Clojure, and JRuby. In this pantheon of development languages, Groovy stands out for its excellent DSL enabling features which allows it to be manipulated to produce mini languages that are tailored to a project’s needs. A comprehensive tutorial on designing and developing mini Groovy based Domain Specific Languages, this book will guide you through the development of several mini DSLs that will help you gain all the skills needed to develop your own Groovy based DSLs with confidence and ease. Starting with the bare basics, this book will focus on how Groovy can be used to construct domain specific mini languages, and will go through the more complex meta-programming features of Groovy, including using the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST). Practical examples are used throughout this book to de-mystify these seemingly complex language features and to show how they can be used to create simple and elegant DSLs. Packed with examples, including several fully worked DSLs, this book will serve as a springboard for developing your own DSLs.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)
close
close
Preface
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Free Chapter
1
1. Introduction to DSLs and Groovy
1. Introduction to DSLs and Groovy
DSL – a new name for an old idea
Groovy
Summary
2
2. Groovy Quick Start
2. Groovy Quick Start
Installing Groovy with GVM
How to find and install Groovy from binaries
Running Groovy
The Groovy IDE and editor integration
Summary
3
3. Essential Groovy DSLs
3. Essential Groovy DSLs
Installing Gradle
Gradle basics
Spock tests
Further reading
Summary
4
4. The Groovy Language
4. The Groovy Language
Introducing the Groovy language
Summary
5
5. Groovy Closures
5. Groovy Closures
What is a closure?
Closures and collection methods
Closures as method parameters
Calling closures
Finding a named closure field
Closure parameters
Closure return values
The closure scope
Summary
6
6. Example DSL – GeeTwitter
6. Example DSL – GeeTwitter
Twitter
Working with the Twitter APIs
Groovy improvements
Removing the boilerplate
Adding a command-line interface
Adding built-in methods
Summary
7
7. Power Groovy DSL Features
7. Power Groovy DSL Features
Named parameters
Command chains
Builders
SwingBuilder
Method pointers
Metaprogramming and the Groovy MOP
How builders work
ExpandoMetaClasses
Summary
8
8. AST Transformations
chevron up
8. AST Transformations
What is an AST
Compiler phases
Local AST transformations
Using ASTBuilder
Global AST transformations
Summary
9
9. Existing Groovy DSLs
9. Existing Groovy DSLs
Grails object relational mapping – GORM
Spock as a DSL
Summary
10
10. Building a Builder
10. Building a Builder
The builder code structure
BuilderSupport
FactoryBuilderSupport
Summary
11
11. Implementing a Rules DSL
11. Implementing a Rules DSL
Groovy bindings
Building a rewards DSL
Summary
12
12. Integrating It All
12. Integrating It All
Groovy as a teaching language
A game DSL for kids
A game DSL – goals
Summary
13
Index
Index

What is an AST

The acronym AST is shorthand for the abstract syntax tree. During the compilation process, the Groovy compiler groovyc will generate interim data structures that represent the code that is being compiled. The main data structure that the complier produces is the AST. The AST is quite literally an abstract syntax tree. In other words, it is a tree structure in memory that describes the syntax of the code being compiled. To illustrate this, let's take a simple example:

class Foo {
    def barValue

    def bar() {
        return barValue
    }
}

The compiler will parse this code and turn it into a tree structure to represent the syntax of the code. At the top of the tree is a node, which represents the class declaration. This node is represented by the Groovy AST class ClassNode. The class node will have several child nodes of the type ConstructorNode, MethodNode, FieldNode, and PropertyNode depending on what phase of compilation we are at.

Note

The major elements of Groovy AST...

Unlock full access

Continue reading for free

A Packt free trial gives you instant online access to our library of over 7000 practical eBooks and videos, constantly updated with the latest in tech
Start a 7-day FREE trial
End of Section 1
Next Section
bookmark search playlist font-size

Change the font size

margin-width

Change margin width

day-mode

Change background colour

Close icon Search
Country selected
Close icon Your notes and bookmarks

Delete Bookmark

Modal Close icon
Are you sure you want to delete it?
Cancel
Yes, Delete