Concern-oriented language development (COLD): Fostering reuse in language engineering

Benoît Combemale, Jörg Kienzle, Gunter Mussbacher, Olivier Barais, Erwan Bousse, Walter Cazzola, Philippe Collet, Thomas Degueule, Robert Heinrich, Jean-Marc Jézéquel, Manuel Leduc, Tanja Mayerhofer, Sébastien Mosser, Matthias Schöttle, Misha Strittmatter, Andreas Wortmann

Abstract: Highlights•Present a new language development model that promotes modularity and reusability.•Promote the development of language concern as reusable piece of language that consists of usual language artifacts (e.g., abstract syntax, concrete syntax, semantics) and exhibits three specific interfaces that support (1) variability management, (2) customization to a specific context, and (3) proper usage of the reused artifact.•The approach is supported by a conceptual model which introduces the required concepts to implement COLD.•We also present concrete examples of some language concerns and the current state of their realization with metamodel-based and grammar-based language workbenches.