Xtext

Xtext is an open-source framework for implementing domain-specific languages and programming languages on the Eclipse platform. It provides a complete toolchain that automates the creation of editors, parsers, and model back-ends from a high-level grammar specification.

Developers write a grammar in the Xtext grammar language. From this grammar, the Xtext generator produces a parser (based on ANTLR), an EMF-based abstract syntax model, a serializer to convert models back to text, and a full Eclipse editor with features such as syntax highlighting, content assist, validation, and outline.

The editor generated by Xtext integrates with Eclipse IDE features, offering code completion, quick fixes, navigation, and cross-reference resolution. Xtext also provides a runtime that allows the generated languages to be used outside the Eclipse IDE, for example in standalone applications or servers.

Key concepts include scoping and linking to resolve references, incremental parsing for fast feedback, and support for multi-language projects and embedding of other languages. The framework supports grammar fragments, inheritance, and DSL composition, enabling modular language design and reuse of language components.

Xtext plays a central role in the Eclipse Modeling and language engineering ecosystem and has been used to build notable languages such as Xtend. It is maintained as part of the Eclipse modeling projects and is used by teams to rapidly create customizable, maintainable DSLs and programming languages.