Advanced Compiler-Compiler Platform
This document specifies the technical design for implementing compiler-compiler capabilities and CLI interface in C#, inspired by the old_code JavaScript/TypeScript implementation. The design leverages .NET’s performance characteristics while maintaining the extensibility and power of the original system.
Minotaur.CLI.exe
├── CLI Interface Layer
├── Compiler-Compiler Engine
├── Code Generation Pipeline
├── Grammar Processing System
├── Context-Sensitive Parser
├── Multi-Language Backends
└── Plugin System Integration
Based on the old_code CLI implementation, the C# version will provide:
// Primary CLI entry point
public class MinotaurCLI
{
public static async Task<int> Main(string[] args)
{
var app = new CommandLineApplication
{
Name = "minotaur",
Description = ".NET Compiler-Compiler with Grammar-Driven Code Generation"
};
// Core commands
app.Command("generate", GenerateCommand.Configure);
app.Command("validate", ValidateCommand.Configure);
app.Command("compile", CompileCommand.Configure);
app.Command("interactive", InteractiveCommand.Configure);
app.Command("optimize", OptimizeCommand.Configure);
return await app.ExecuteAsync(args);
}
}
# Generate parser for target language
minotaur generate --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --target csharp --output ./generated
# Generate with optimization
minotaur generate --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --target go --optimize aggressive
# Generate with embedded language support
minotaur generate --grammar Web.grammar --target typescript --embedded css,html
# Validate grammar file
minotaur validate --grammar MyLanguage.grammar
# Cross-language validation
minotaur validate --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --cross-validate
# Context validation
minotaur validate --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --context-aware
# Compile grammar to intermediate representation
minotaur compile --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --ir llvm --output parser.ll
# Direct compilation to executable parser
minotaur compile --grammar MyLanguage.grammar --target native --output parser.exe
# Interactive REPL mode
minotaur interactive --grammar MyLanguage.grammar
# Interactive grammar development
minotaur interactive --mode develop --grammar MyLanguage.grammar
public class CLIConfiguration
{
public bool Verbose { get; set; } = false;
public OutputFormat OutputFormat { get; set; } = OutputFormat.Text;
public LogLevel LogLevel { get; set; } = LogLevel.Information;
public string WorkingDirectory { get; set; } = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
public string ConfigFile { get; set; } = "minotaur.config.json";
public bool EnableColors { get; set; } = true;
public bool EnableProgress { get; set; } = true;
// Compiler-specific settings
public OptimizationLevel OptimizationLevel { get; set; } = OptimizationLevel.Debug;
public bool EnableContextSensitive { get; set; } = true;
public bool EnableEmbeddedLanguages { get; set; } = true;
public bool EnableCrossLanguageValidation { get; set; } = true;
public int MaxParallelism { get; set; } = Environment.ProcessorCount;
}
public class CompilerCompilerEngine
{
private readonly IStepParser _stepParser;
private readonly ICognitiveGraphBuilder _graphBuilder;
private readonly IContextSensitiveEngine _contextEngine;
private readonly ICodeGenerationPipeline _codeGenerator;
private readonly IOptimizationEngine _optimizer;
public async Task<CompilationResult> CompileGrammarAsync(
GrammarDefinition grammar,
CompilerConfiguration config,
CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
{
// Multi-stage compilation pipeline
var parseResult = await _stepParser.ParseGrammarAsync(grammar, cancellationToken);
var graphResult = await _graphBuilder.BuildCognitiveGraphAsync(parseResult, cancellationToken);
var contextResult = await _contextEngine.AnalyzeContextAsync(graphResult, cancellationToken);
var optimizedResult = await _optimizer.OptimizeAsync(contextResult, config, cancellationToken);
var codeResult = await _codeGenerator.GenerateCodeAsync(optimizedResult, config, cancellationToken);
return new CompilationResult
{
Success = codeResult.Success,
GeneratedFiles = codeResult.GeneratedFiles,
Diagnostics = CombineDiagnostics(parseResult, graphResult, contextResult, codeResult),
Metadata = CreateMetadata(config, codeResult)
};
}
}
public interface IGrammarProcessor
{
Task<GrammarAnalysisResult> AnalyzeGrammarAsync(string grammarPath);
Task<ValidationResult> ValidateGrammarAsync(GrammarDefinition grammar);
Task<OptimizationSuggestions> SuggestOptimizationsAsync(GrammarDefinition grammar);
}
public class GrammarProcessor : IGrammarProcessor
{
private readonly IStepParser _stepParser;
private readonly IGrammarValidator _validator;
private readonly IGrammarOptimizer _optimizer;
public async Task<GrammarAnalysisResult> AnalyzeGrammarAsync(string grammarPath)
{
var grammarContent = await File.ReadAllTextAsync(grammarPath);
var grammar = await _stepParser.ParseGrammarDefinitionAsync(grammarContent);
return new GrammarAnalysisResult
{
Grammar = grammar,
Complexity = CalculateComplexity(grammar),
EmbeddedLanguages = DetectEmbeddedLanguages(grammar),
ContextRequirements = AnalyzeContextRequirements(grammar),
OptimizationOpportunities = await _optimizer.AnalyzeAsync(grammar)
};
}
}
public class ContextSensitiveEngine : IContextSensitiveEngine
{
private readonly ISymbolTableManager _symbolTableManager;
private readonly IScopeAnalyzer _scopeAnalyzer;
private readonly IContextValidator _contextValidator;
public async Task<ContextAnalysisResult> AnalyzeContextAsync(
CognitiveGraphResult graphResult,
CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
{
var contexts = await IdentifyContextsAsync(graphResult.Graph);
var symbolTables = await BuildSymbolTablesAsync(contexts);
var scopeAnalysis = await _scopeAnalyzer.AnalyzeAsync(contexts, symbolTables);
var validation = await _contextValidator.ValidateAsync(scopeAnalysis);
return new ContextAnalysisResult
{
Contexts = contexts,
SymbolTables = symbolTables,
ScopeAnalysis = scopeAnalysis,
ValidationResults = validation,
RequiresContextSwitching = DetermineContextSwitchingNeeds(contexts)
};
}
private async Task<List<ParseContext>> IdentifyContextsAsync(ICognitiveGraph graph)
{
var contexts = new List<ParseContext>();
var visitor = new ContextIdentificationVisitor();
await graph.AcceptAsync(visitor);
return visitor.IdentifiedContexts;
}
}
public interface ILanguageBackend
{
string TargetLanguage { get; }
Task<CodeGenerationResult> GenerateAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config);
Task<ValidationResult> ValidateGeneratedCodeAsync(string generatedCode);
Task<OptimizationResult> OptimizeGeneratedCodeAsync(
string generatedCode,
OptimizationConfiguration config);
}
// C# Backend
public class CSharpBackend : ILanguageBackend
{
public string TargetLanguage => "csharp";
public async Task<CodeGenerationResult> GenerateAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config)
{
var templates = await LoadTemplatesAsync();
var generator = new CSharpCodeGenerator(templates, config);
var parserCode = await generator.GenerateParserAsync(contextResult);
var lexerCode = await generator.GenerateLexerAsync(contextResult);
var astCode = await generator.GenerateASTNodesAsync(contextResult);
var visitorCode = await generator.GenerateVisitorsAsync(contextResult);
return new CodeGenerationResult
{
Success = true,
GeneratedFiles = new Dictionary<string, string>
{
["Parser.cs"] = parserCode,
["Lexer.cs"] = lexerCode,
["AST.cs"] = astCode,
["Visitors.cs"] = visitorCode
},
BuildFiles = await GenerateBuildFilesAsync(config),
TestFiles = config.GenerateTests ? await GenerateTestFilesAsync(contextResult) : new(),
DocumentationFiles = config.GenerateDocumentation ? await GenerateDocsAsync(contextResult) : new()
};
}
}
// Go Backend
public class GoBackend : ILanguageBackend
{
public string TargetLanguage => "go";
public async Task<CodeGenerationResult> GenerateAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config)
{
// Go-specific generation logic
var generator = new GoCodeGenerator(config);
return await generator.GenerateParserPackageAsync(contextResult);
}
}
public class TemplateEngine
{
private readonly Dictionary<string, ITemplate> _templates;
private readonly ITemplateCache _cache;
public async Task<string> RenderAsync<T>(string templateName, T model)
where T : class
{
var template = await GetTemplateAsync(templateName);
return await template.RenderAsync(model);
}
private async Task<ITemplate> GetTemplateAsync(string templateName)
{
if (_cache.TryGetTemplate(templateName, out var cachedTemplate))
return cachedTemplate;
var templateContent = await LoadTemplateContentAsync(templateName);
var compiledTemplate = CompileTemplate(templateContent);
_cache.CacheTemplate(templateName, compiledTemplate);
return compiledTemplate;
}
}
public interface ICompilerPlugin
{
string Name { get; }
string Version { get; }
IEnumerable<string> SupportedLanguages { get; }
Task<bool> CanHandleAsync(string targetLanguage);
Task<CodeGenerationResult> GenerateCodeAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config);
Task<ValidationResult> ValidateAsync(string generatedCode);
}
public class PluginManager
{
private readonly IRuntimePluggableClassFactory _factory;
private readonly Dictionary<string, ICompilerPlugin> _loadedPlugins;
public async Task LoadPluginsAsync(string pluginDirectory)
{
var pluginFiles = Directory.GetFiles(pluginDirectory, "*.dll");
foreach (var pluginFile in pluginFiles)
{
try
{
var plugins = await _factory.LoadPluginsAsync<ICompilerPlugin>(pluginFile);
foreach (var plugin in plugins)
{
_loadedPlugins[plugin.Name] = plugin;
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Log plugin loading error
Console.WriteLine($"Failed to load plugin {pluginFile}: {ex.Message}");
}
}
}
public async Task<ICompilerPlugin?> GetPluginForLanguageAsync(string targetLanguage)
{
foreach (var plugin in _loadedPlugins.Values)
{
if (await plugin.CanHandleAsync(targetLanguage))
return plugin;
}
return null;
}
}
public class InteractiveREPL
{
private readonly ICompilerCompilerEngine _engine;
private readonly IGrammarProcessor _grammarProcessor;
private readonly IContextSensitiveEngine _contextEngine;
private GrammarDefinition? _currentGrammar;
public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
{
Console.WriteLine("Minotaur Interactive Compiler-Compiler");
Console.WriteLine("Type 'help' for commands, 'exit' to quit");
while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
{
Console.Write("minotaur> ");
var input = Console.ReadLine();
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input))
continue;
try
{
await ProcessCommandAsync(input.Trim());
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}
}
}
private async Task ProcessCommandAsync(string command)
{
var parts = command.Split(' ', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
var cmd = parts[0].ToLower();
switch (cmd)
{
case "load":
await LoadGrammarAsync(parts.Length > 1 ? parts[1] : throw new ArgumentException("Grammar file path required"));
break;
case "analyze":
await AnalyzeCurrentGrammarAsync();
break;
case "generate":
await GenerateCodeAsync(parts.Length > 1 ? parts[1] : "csharp");
break;
case "validate":
await ValidateCurrentGrammarAsync();
break;
case "optimize":
await OptimizeCurrentGrammarAsync();
break;
case "help":
ShowHelp();
break;
case "exit":
Environment.Exit(0);
break;
default:
Console.WriteLine($"Unknown command: {cmd}. Type 'help' for available commands.");
break;
}
}
}
public class InteractiveGrammarDeveloper
{
private readonly IGrammarProcessor _processor;
private readonly ICodeGenerationPipeline _generator;
public async Task StartDevelopmentSessionAsync(string grammarPath)
{
var watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(Path.GetDirectoryName(grammarPath)!, Path.GetFileName(grammarPath));
watcher.Changed += async (sender, e) => await OnGrammarChangedAsync(e.FullPath);
watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
Console.WriteLine($"Watching grammar file: {grammarPath}");
Console.WriteLine("Make changes to see real-time validation and generation...");
// Initial analysis
await OnGrammarChangedAsync(grammarPath);
// Wait for user to exit
Console.WriteLine("Press 'q' to quit...");
while (Console.ReadKey().KeyChar != 'q') { }
}
private async Task OnGrammarChangedAsync(string grammarPath)
{
try
{
var result = await _processor.AnalyzeGrammarAsync(grammarPath);
Console.WriteLine($"\n[{DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss}] Grammar analysis complete:");
Console.WriteLine($" Rules: {result.Grammar.Rules.Count}");
Console.WriteLine($" Complexity: {result.Complexity}");
Console.WriteLine($" Embedded Languages: {string.Join(", ", result.EmbeddedLanguages)}");
if (result.Validation.HasErrors)
{
Console.WriteLine(" Errors:");
foreach (var error in result.Validation.Errors)
{
Console.WriteLine($" Line {error.Line}: {error.Message}");
}
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine(" ✓ Grammar is valid");
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($" ✗ Error: {ex.Message}");
}
}
}
public class ZeroCopyCompilerEngine
{
private readonly MemoryPool<byte> _memoryPool;
private readonly ArrayPool<char> _charPool;
public async Task<CompilationResult> CompileAsync(
ReadOnlyMemory<char> grammarContent,
CompilerConfiguration config)
{
using var memoryOwner = _memoryPool.Rent(grammarContent.Length * 2);
using var charArrayOwner = _charPool.Rent(grammarContent.Length);
// Zero-copy parsing using spans
var grammarSpan = grammarContent.Span;
var parseResult = await ParseGrammarZeroCopyAsync(grammarSpan);
return await ProcessParseResultAsync(parseResult, config);
}
private async Task<ParseResult> ParseGrammarZeroCopyAsync(ReadOnlySpan<char> grammarSpan)
{
// Implement zero-copy parsing using ReadOnlySpan<char>
// Leverage DevelApp.StepParser for efficient parsing
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
public class ParallelCodeGenerator
{
private readonly ParallelOptions _parallelOptions;
public async Task<CodeGenerationResult> GenerateParallelAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config)
{
var generationTasks = new List<Task<GeneratedFile>>();
// Generate different components in parallel
generationTasks.Add(Task.Run(() => GenerateParserAsync(contextResult, config)));
generationTasks.Add(Task.Run(() => GenerateLexerAsync(contextResult, config)));
generationTasks.Add(Task.Run(() => GenerateASTAsync(contextResult, config)));
generationTasks.Add(Task.Run(() => GenerateVisitorsAsync(contextResult, config)));
if (config.GenerateTests)
{
generationTasks.Add(Task.Run(() => GenerateTestsAsync(contextResult, config)));
}
var results = await Task.WhenAll(generationTasks);
return CombineResults(results);
}
}
public class MinotaurCompilerBuilder
{
private readonly IStepParser _stepParser;
private readonly ICognitiveGraphBuilder _graphBuilder;
private readonly ILanguagePluginManager _pluginManager;
public MinotaurCompilerBuilder()
{
// Initialize with DevelApp NuGet packages
_stepParser = new StepParserWrapper(); // Wraps DevelApp.StepParser
_graphBuilder = new CognitiveGraphBuilder(); // Uses DevelApp.CognitiveGraph
_pluginManager = new LanguagePluginManager(); // Uses DevelApp.RuntimePluggableClassFactory
}
public ICompilerCompilerEngine Build(CompilerConfiguration config)
{
return new CompilerCompilerEngine(
_stepParser,
_graphBuilder,
CreateContextEngine(config),
CreateCodeGenerator(config),
CreateOptimizer(config)
);
}
}
public class CompilerConfiguration
{
public string GrammarPath { get; set; } = string.Empty;
public string OutputDirectory { get; set; } = "./generated";
public string TargetLanguage { get; set; } = "csharp";
public OptimizationLevel OptimizationLevel { get; set; } = OptimizationLevel.Debug;
public bool EnableContextSensitive { get; set; } = true;
public bool EnableEmbeddedLanguages { get; set; } = true;
public bool EnableParallelGeneration { get; set; } = true;
public bool GenerateTests { get; set; } = false;
public bool GenerateDocumentation { get; set; } = false;
public Dictionary<string, object> LanguageSpecificOptions { get; set; } = new();
public static CompilerConfiguration LoadFromFile(string configPath)
{
var json = File.ReadAllText(configPath);
return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<CompilerConfiguration>(json) ?? new CompilerConfiguration();
}
public void SaveToFile(string configPath)
{
var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(this, new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true });
File.WriteAllText(configPath, json);
}
}
public class CompilerDiagnostics
{
private readonly List<Diagnostic> _diagnostics = new();
public void AddError(string message, Location location, string code = "")
{
_diagnostics.Add(new Diagnostic
{
Severity = DiagnosticSeverity.Error,
Message = message,
Location = location,
Code = code
});
}
public void AddWarning(string message, Location location, string code = "")
{
_diagnostics.Add(new Diagnostic
{
Severity = DiagnosticSeverity.Warning,
Message = message,
Location = location,
Code = code
});
}
public bool HasErrors => _diagnostics.Any(d => d.Severity == DiagnosticSeverity.Error);
public IReadOnlyList<Diagnostic> Diagnostics => _diagnostics.AsReadOnly();
public void PrintDiagnostics(TextWriter writer, bool useColors = true)
{
foreach (var diagnostic in _diagnostics)
{
var color = diagnostic.Severity switch
{
DiagnosticSeverity.Error => ConsoleColor.Red,
DiagnosticSeverity.Warning => ConsoleColor.Yellow,
DiagnosticSeverity.Info => ConsoleColor.Blue,
_ => ConsoleColor.White
};
if (useColors)
Console.ForegroundColor = color;
writer.WriteLine($"{diagnostic.Severity.ToString().ToLower()}: {diagnostic.Message}");
if (diagnostic.Location != null)
{
writer.WriteLine($" at {diagnostic.Location}");
}
if (useColors)
Console.ResetColor();
}
}
}
public class TestGenerator
{
public async Task<Dictionary<string, string>> GenerateTestsAsync(
ContextAnalysisResult contextResult,
CodeGenerationConfiguration config)
{
var tests = new Dictionary<string, string>();
// Generate unit tests for parser
tests["ParserTests.cs"] = await GenerateParserTestsAsync(contextResult);
// Generate unit tests for lexer
tests["LexerTests.cs"] = await GenerateLexerTestsAsync(contextResult);
// Generate integration tests
tests["IntegrationTests.cs"] = await GenerateIntegrationTestsAsync(contextResult);
// Generate performance tests
if (config.GeneratePerformanceTests)
{
tests["PerformanceTests.cs"] = await GeneratePerformanceTestsAsync(contextResult);
}
return tests;
}
}
<!-- Minotaur.CLI.csproj -->
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
<PackAsTool>true</PackAsTool>
<ToolCommandName>minotaur</ToolCommandName>
<PackageId>DevelApp.Minotaur.CLI</PackageId>
<PackageDescription>Command-line interface for Minotaur Compiler-Compiler</PackageDescription>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<PackageReference Include="DevelApp.Minotaur" Version="1.0.0" />
<PackageReference Include="McMaster.Extensions.CommandLineUtils" Version="4.0.2" />
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting" Version="8.0.0" />
<PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Logging" Version="8.0.0" />
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
# Install as global tool
dotnet tool install --global DevelApp.Minotaur.CLI
# Install as local tool
dotnet tool install DevelApp.Minotaur.CLI
# Use as NuGet package reference
dotnet add package DevelApp.Minotaur
This technical design provides a comprehensive blueprint for implementing compiler-compiler capabilities and CLI interface in C#, maintaining the power and flexibility of the original JavaScript/TypeScript implementation while leveraging .NET’s performance advantages and the existing DevelApp NuGet package ecosystem.
The design emphasizes:
The phased implementation approach ensures steady progress while allowing for iterative testing and validation of each component.