[antlr-interest] what's in a name?

[Terence Parr]

On Aug 27, 2009, at 2:07 PM, Sam Barnett-Cormack wrote:
> Three words is a great idea, but I'd sooner see another book later  
> that really *is* about designing DSLs, and there'd be concept  
> confusion with titles.

that is true; unfortunately I'm not really qualified to write that  
book ;)  Well, not if we're talking about programming languages too.

> It's awkward. Language Design Patterns is a little snappier than  
> Design Patterns for Language Implementation, I'll admit,

yup. snappy is good :)

> and replacing language with more implementations-specific words like  
> "parser" is bad as it changes the emphasis to sound like it's about  
> ANTLR "under the hood". Of course, there's always that word - ANTLR.
>
> Seriously, ANTLR Design Patterns, and then a subtitle much as you've  
> already mentioned.

yeah, trying to make it as general as possible.

> Sure, people won't be as likely to pick it up if they're not aware  
> of ANTLR, but not many who pick it up will fail to put it down if  
> they don't know of ANTLR anyway, unless you sell it differently. The  
> only sort of book that sold ANTLR to non-ANTLR-aware-people would be  
> a real newbie-level type thing introducing all of the concepts in  
> tutorial fashion (like the difference between O'Reilly 'Learning ~'  
> books and '~ in a Nutshell' books - ANTLR Reference is like a  
> Nutshell). Of course, now I'm selling a concept for a third book...

I'm not sure about this. There is a giant hole in the market sitting  
between the Dragon book and a number of language implementation books  
that use scheme instead of a language programmers use everyday.   
people can use this without ANTLR no problem. As I point out in the  
book, when you were learning to fly there's no choice but to pick an  
airplane. Later you can transfer your skills easily to another aircraft.

> So I think ANTLR Design Patterns - Techniques and Strategies for  
> Language Implementation. Add "Domain Specific" before "Language" if  
> the publishers are so keen on the buzzwords. Where do you draw the  
> line on a DSL anyway?

a tough question. yeah, making titles is really really hard.

T