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From: jsedayao@td2cad.intel.com (Jeff Sedayao )
Newsgroups: comp.editors,comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Language-based editors
Summary: How to get the Cornell program - what about emacs?
Keywords: Cornell Porgram Synthesizer Generator Emacs
Message-ID: <987@td2cad.intel.com>
Date: 29 Jul 88 02:08:00 GMT
References: <2135@mhres.mh.nl>
Reply-To: jsedayao@td2cad.UUCP (Jeff Sedayao )
Organization: Intel TD, Santa Clara CA
Lines: 54

In article <2135@mhres.mh.nl> ml@mhres.mh.nl (Marco Luiten) writes:
>I am looking for product information about language-based editors.
>The editor I am looking for should support the following functionality:
>
>- It must support more than one computer language, preferably ALL
>  structured text.
>- It must be available at more than one operating system, preferably
>  UNIX, VMS and MS-DOS, or the source should be available.
>- It should edit language-elements like statements/-parts instead of
>  characters/lines/etc.
>- It should be a WYSIWYG-editor.
>
>I only know of one such product: The Synthesizer Generator from the
>Cornell University. 

What about emacs?  It has a number of language sensitive modes, and 
you can make up your own modes if you want.  There are also versions 
for MS-DOS, VMS, and UNIX.  I am not sure if the Synthesizer Generator
runs on VMS or MS-DOS.  These are not mentioned in my manual, but 
versions could exist.

>"The synthesizer Generator creates a language-specific editor from an
> input-specification that defines a language's abstract syntax, context
> sensitive relationships,..."

That it does.  The input language is a bit crusty, though, as is some
of its user interface.  What I really like about it is that it allows
the user to put up templates of the language and all you have to do
is fill in the blanks.  The generator comes with specifications already
made for pascal and c.  Source is also included (there's lots of it!).

>I have two questions:
>
>1. How and where can I order this Synthesizer Generator?

Send mail to Liz Maxwell at maxwell@gvax.cs.cornell.edu
She will be able to tell you how to get the editor.

>2. Are there any similar products available?

There is emacs, like I mentioned above.  There is also something called
LEIF which is a tool built on top of emacs.  I am not sure how to get
it.  Also, at UC Berkeley, there is an editor called pan that is
language sensitive.  You can ask Susan Graham graham@renoir.berkeley.edu
about getting it.  Pan is limited to running on suns, though.

>Thanks in advance.
>-- 
>Marco Luiten
-- 
Jeff Sedayao               Disclaimer: My opinions, not those of
Intel Corporation                      my employers
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