Direct Access of Language Metadata

• US 20080189683A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Snover, Jeffrey P., Rowlett, Jonathan M., Payette, Bruce, Xie, George, Holmes, Lee, Truher, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation

Abstract

Method and system for direct access of language metadata are disclosed. In an implementation, the method includes receiving commands from a user to modify language metadata of a programming language. The metadata is modified based on the command and the modified metadata is utilized as a feature in the programming language at runtime.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a memory;

one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory;

a compiler coupled to the one or more processors and memory generates an output program;

an interpreter that executes the output program; and

a language metadata provider that provides metadata requirements for the compiler and interpreter.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the language metadata provider is included in one of the compiler and the interpreter.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the compiler includes one or more of the following:

a parse engine and a code generator.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the compiler includes a parse engine that transforms input script into a data structure that captures implied hierarchy of the input script.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the compiler includes a code generator that receives a parse tree and generates the output program.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the language metadata provider is included in one of the following:

the compiler or the interpreter.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the language metadata provider is configured to receive commands from a user.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the language metadata provider further modifies language metadata of a programming language based on language metadata commands.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the language metadata provider is configured to manipulate language metadata at runtime and change language behavior.

10. A compiler comprising:

a parse engine configured to receive input script;

a standard language grammar module that defines features of a programming language of the input script;

an active profile module that defines a sequence of namespaces; and

a language metadata provider that provides metadata requirements for the compiler.

11. The compiler of claim 10, wherein standard language grammar module defines the features of the programming language in a standard language grammar to extract syntax information of the programming language.

12. The compiler of claim 10, wherein the active profile module defines the sequence of namespaces, wherein the namespaces are implemented in an array, and each of the namespaces define particular elements.

13. The compiler of claim 10, wherein the active profile module includes a dynamic collection of metadata used by the parse engine for parsing functions.

14. The compiler of claim 10, wherein the language metadata provider includes namespace data utilized by the active profile module to provide nodes in a parse tree.

15. The compiler of claim 10, wherein the language metadata provider includes provides logic for navigating and manipulating language metadata.

16. A method comprising:

receiving commands to modify language metadata of a programming language;

modifying the language metadata at runtime based on the commands; and

utilizing the language metadata as a feature at runtime.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving commands includes intercepting the commands, and generating and maintaining modifiable language metadata.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the modifying includes modifying namespace elements.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the utilizing includes utilizing the language metadata for inputs scripts and output programs.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the utilizing includes executing and parsing functions of the programming language.