The document discusses implementing domain specific languages (DSLs) using Groovy. It defines DSLs as languages that clearly express the ideas of a particular domain. It outlines several advantages of Groovy for building DSLs, including its flexibility, Java interoperability, and features that support DSL development like introspection, syntactic sugar, and operator overloading. Examples are provided of internal DSLs implemented in Groovy for tasks like querying a database and defining recipes.

1. Implementing DSLs in Groovy Matt Secoske http://blog.secosoft.net http://objectpartners.com

2. DSL? Groovy?

3. D omain S pecific L anguage: A language that clearly expresses the ideas of a particular domain

4. aka: fluent / humane interfaces problem oriented languages little / mini languages macros (as in Excel)

5. Domain Specific Language

6. this:

7. not this:

8. this:

9. not this:

10. A DSL is just another tool in our toolbox. It’s a jig to help us build our applications. picture copyrighted @2007 Pat Warner, http://www.patwarner.com

11. why?

12. bring the syntax closer to the domain (the experts language)

13. mrMustard .didIt( Murder .of( mrGreen )) .in( theKitchen ) .with( theCandleStick )

14. /^([a-zA-Z0-9_])+(([a-zA-Z0-9])+)+([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4})+$/

15. class CreateQuizComments < ActiveRecord::Migration def self.up create_table :quiz_comments do |t| t.column :name, :string t.column :email, :string t.column :url, :string t.column :comment, :text end end def self.down drop_table :quiz_comments end end

16. Goal: make the problem easier to understand

17. (My) Ultimate Goal: Be able to give the code to the experts, and have them use it

18. Types of DSLs: - Internal - External - Functional - Object Oriented

19. Internal DSLs - extending a language - can be whatever you want - within the laws of the base language

20. Groovy?

21. A Compelling Story: - Much of the flexibility of Ruby - Familiar Java idioms and syntax - Is focused on the JVM - and Java “pain points”

22. Groovy has good DSL support: - introspection / reflection (ability to parse(itself)) Meta-Object Protocol - syntactic sugar Builders Duck Typing Categories ExpandoMetaClass Named Parameters Operator Overloading

23. Introspection / Reflection - Access to the AST at Class loading time - Can run/load code at any time

24. class MyGroovy extends GroovyClassLoader { protected CompilationUnit createCompilationUnit(CompilerConfiguration config, CodeSource source) { CompilationUnit cu = super .createCompilationUnit(config, source); cu.addPhaseOperation( new PrimaryClassNodeOperation() { public void call (SourceUnit source, GeneratorContext context, ClassNode classNode) throws CompilationFailedException { String name = classNode.getName(); if (name.endsWith( &quot;Foo&quot; )) { BlockStatement code = new BlockStatement(); classNode.addMethod( ”bar&quot; ,Opcodes.ACC_PUBLIC, null , null , null ,code); } } },Phases.CONVERSION); return cu; } } Adapted from blackdrag’s blog: http://blackdragsview.blogspot.com/2006/11/chitchat-with-groovy-compiler.html

25. Meta Object Protocol - Determines what’s running at Runtime - add/modify/intercept methods, properties MetaClass Class getFoo() doesntExistOnClass() Other Code

26. more Groovy syntactic sugar

27. Duck typing : flexible code if it walks like a duck… and it quacks like a duck… its probably a …. a = ”a string&quot; println a. class // => class java.lang.String a = 1 println a. class // => class java.lang.Integer

28. builders : structured data swing = new SwingBuilder() frame = swing.frame( title: 'Life' ) { vbox { panel( id: 'canvas' ) { vstrut(height: 300 ) hstrut(width: 300 ) } hbox { glue() button( text: 'Next' , actionPerformed:{evolve()}) } }} frame.pack() frame.show()

29. Using “ use ” (Groovy Categories) class MeasureCategory { static Measurement getLbs( final Integer self) { new Measurement(self, Measurement.Pounds) } } aClosure = {-> println 4 .lbs.of( &quot;Sugar&quot; ) } use (MeasureCategory. class ) { println 1 .lbs.of( &quot;Carrots&quot; ) // -> 1 Pounds of Carrots aClosure. call () // -> 4 Pounds of Sugar }

30. Using ExpandoMetaClass: metaClass = new ExpandoMetaClass(Integer. class , true ) metaClass.getLbs << {-> &quot;${delegate} pounds&quot; } metaClass.initialize() i = 1 ; println i // => 1 println i. class // => java.lang.Integer println i.lbs // => 1 pounds

31. Using ExpandoMetaClass: metaClass = new ExpandoMetaClass(Integer. class , true ) metaClass.getLbs << {-> &quot;${delegate} pounds&quot; } metaClass.initialize() i = 1 ; println i // => 1 println i. class // => java.lang.Integer println i.lbs // => 1 pounds

32. To Expando or not to Expando … - global usage (good and bad) - must be aware of context - naming collisions use + aspects/annotations = somewhat finer grained control

33. Operator Overloading: class Foo { String meh; public Foo(String meh) { this .meh = meh} public String toString() { meh } public Foo plus (other) { new Foo( this .meh + other.toString()) } } a = new Foo( &quot;Hello &quot; ) b = new Foo( &quot;World&quot; ) c = &quot;New World&quot; println a + b // -> “Hello World” println a + c // -> “Hello New World”

34. Grails/Hibernate Criteria Builder: def c = Account.createCriteria() def results = c { like( &quot;holderFirstName&quot; , &quot;Fred%&quot; ) and { between( &quot;balance&quot; , 500 , 1000 ) eq( &quot;branch&quot; , &quot;London&quot; ) } maxResults( 10 ) order( &quot;holderLastName&quot; , &quot;desc&quot; ) }

35. A Recipe DSL: use(MeasurementCategory) { recipe = new Recipe() recipe.ingredients = [ 2 .cups.of( &quot;Milk&quot; ), 2 .tsps.of( &quot;Chocolate Milk Mix&quot; ) ] recipe.steps { with( &quot;drinking glass&quot; ) { add( &quot;Chocolate Milk Mix&quot; ) stirIn( &quot;Milk&quot; ) } } }

36. Domain Specific Language syntax approaches the problem understanding++

37. Three things that always matter: Naming Structure Context } Meaning

38. Thank You! slides at: http://blog.secosoft.net