The document discusses 'Rabix Benten,' an experimental language server for the Common Workflow Language (CWL), aimed at enhancing code intelligence features in multiple editors. It highlights its integration with visual programming IDE 'Rabix Composer' and features like autocomplete, connection validation, and syntax highlighting. The document invites feedback and assistance as Benten is in its early stages of development.

1. © 2019 Seven Bridges
Rabix Benten
An experimental language server for the Common Workflow Language
Kaushik Ghose (Seven Bridges)

2. © 2019 Seven Bridges
Common Workflow Language
Widely accepted standard for
describing analysis tools and
workflows.
Same description file can be
run on different workflow
engines, on different
backends

3. © 2019 Seven Bridges
Rabix Composer: Visual programming in CWL
https://github.com/rabix/composer (Apache 2.0)
● Visual programming IDE
● Build workflows
intuitively
● Don't have to remember
CWL syntax

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Some users prefer to code CWL directly
We would like to have code-intelligence features for CWL, just like we have
for R, Python etc. for such users

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Language Server
● One backend program
● Runs outside the editor
● Uses a standard protocol
to provide language
specific code features to
multiple editors/IDEs
language server
https://langserver.org/

6. © 2019 Seven Bridges
Rabix Benten: A language server for CWL
https://github.com/rabix/benten (Apache 2.0) Benten running with VS Code

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Jump to definition

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Autocomplete for run field is a File picker

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Connection validation and hints

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Syntax highlighting (VS Code)
Visual Studio Code is a very well designed coding platform with a lot
of attention paid to detail. Here for example, JS highlighting comes for
free by describing it as an embedded language inside the main
grammar.

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Document structure

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Does the language server concept live up to the dream?
Benten running with VIhttps://github.com/rabix/benten/blob/master/docs/vim.md

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Relation to Rabix Composer
● Composer has a code pane
● Does not preserve original YAML
● Attaches metadata to CWL code
● Embeds all linked workflows
● Orders YAML systematically
● Code pane uses language server
● Composer specific metadata is hidden
● Do not embed linked files
Aspiration

14. © 2019 Seven Bridges
Thanks!
https://github.com/rabix/benten
● Benten enables code intelligence features for CWL across
editors
● This is an early stage release - feedback is most welcome
● Help welcome - help getting Benten to work with your
favorite code editor