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Glossary>Programming Languages>Syntax Definition Formalism

Syntax Definition Formalism

Syntax Definition Formalism (SDF) is a formal language used to define the syntax of programming languages and domain-specific languages. It provides a framework for specifying both lexical and context-free syntax rules, enabling the generation of parsers that can recognize and process the defined language constructs.

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About Syntax Definition Formalism

Syntax Definition Formalism (SDF) was developed in the late 1980s to early 1990s. It emerged from research efforts aimed at creating a more flexible and expressive way to define the syntax of programming languages. The goal was to address limitations in existing syntax definition techniques and provide a unified framework for specifying both lexical and context-free syntax rules.

Strengths of Syntax Definition Formalism include its ability to define both lexical and context-free syntax rules in a single framework, its high expressiveness, and its support for modularity and extensibility. Weaknesses include potential complexity in writing and understanding SDF specifications and performance issues with generated parsers for very large grammars. Competitors include ANTLR, Yacc/Bison, and PEG (Parsing Expression Grammar) frameworks.

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How to hire a Syntax Definition Formalism expert

A Syntax Definition Formalism expert must have strong skills in formal language theory, proficiency in defining and working with context-free grammars, and experience with lexical analysis. They should also be adept at using SDF tools and frameworks, possess knowledge of parser generation techniques, and have the ability to debug and optimize grammar specifications.

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