A Web-Based Grammar Development Environment for GF

Thomas Hallgren

Originally presented at 4th MOLTO Project Meeting,

Zurich, March 2011

Abstract

GF Grammar Development Environments

Traditional

• Generic text editor
• GF documentation
• GF command shell

GF Grammar Development Environments → Traditional

Generic text editor

• Little, if any, GF support
• Maybe syntax high-lighting

GF Grammar Development Environments → Traditional

GF documentation

• www.grammaticalframework.org
  • Tutorials
  • Reference material
• The GF book

GF Grammar Development Environments → Traditional

GF command shell

• Grammar compilation
• Error detection
• Testing
• Visualization

New GF Grammar Development Environments

• 1) GF Plugin for Eclipse
  • Established
  • Powerful
• 2) Web-based IDE
  • Minimal effort to get started
  • Guidance for novice users

GF Web IDE

• Prototype
• Subset of GF
• Quick access, no software to download and install
  • Implemented in HTML5 + JavaScript

GF Web IDE

Portability, works on multiple plaforms

• Linux, Mac, Windows
• Touch-based Android and iOS devices
• User guidance
  • Error avoidance
  • Agreement between abstract and concrete syntax
  • Some error detection integrated in editor
    • Overall syntax
    • Scoping

GF Web IDE → Portability, works on multiple plaforms

Integrated testing and visualization

• Fast edit-compile-test cycle
• Web apps for testing
  • Minibar
  • Translation Quiz

Demo

http://cloud.grammaticalframework.org

Future work

• Cloud-based grammar storage and sharing
• Export and import grammars
• More efficient editing
  • Keyboard access to all editing operations
• Use GF compiler API to add more functionality
• More guidance and intergrated documentaiton
• ...

The End

Questions?