Formalizing homogeneous language embeddings.

The cost of implementing syntactically distinct Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) can be reduced by homogeneously embedding them in a host language in cooperation with its compiler. Current homogeneous embedding approaches either restrict the embedding of multiple DSLs in order to provide safety guarantees, or allow multiple DSLs to be embedded but force the user to deal with the interoperability burden. In this paper we present the \mu-calculus which allows parameterisable language embeddings to be specified and analysed. By reducing the problem to its core essentials we are able to show how multiple, expressive, language embeddings can be defined in a homogeneous embedding context. We further show how variant calculi with user-defined safety criteria can be defined.

Post refereed version as permitted by publisher.

Originally presented as a paper at the Workshop on language descriptions tools and applications held in York, 2009.