Towards tackling SPARQL heterogeneity through modular parsing

Jitse De Smet, Ruben Taelman

Keywords: SPARQL, SPARQL tooling, modular parser

TL;DR: Sketch the need for modular parsers in the SPARQL ecosystem and suggest modular parser architecture - motivated through a working prototype

Abstract: The SPARQL ecosystem has become increasingly fragmented as engines introduce valuable but incompatible language extensions. This growing diversity undermines query portability, tooling reliability, and the pace of innovation. To address this, we designed a modular parser architecture that supports dynamic extension and modular grammar definitions. This paper presents a builder-based, TypeScript-native parser framework inspired by Chevrotain and the modular principles of Comunica. Our prototype demonstrates that key SPARQL extensions can be integrated, altered, or removed with minimal effort and strong type safety. These results suggest that modular, declarative parsing is not only feasible but essential for keeping pace with evolving SPARQL standards. Looking forward, we identify the need for round-trippable ASTs, Babel-inspired generators, and transformer pipelines to enable a complete, future-proof SPARQL toolchain.

Submission Type: Software talk

URL: https://traqula-demo-semantics-2025.jitsedesmet.be/

Submission Number: 2