COMP3021 Assignment 1 Solved

1. Overview

Several programming languages can be used to draw pictures. For example, some general- purpose languages (e.g., C++ and Java) support drawing functions by calling library functions. On the other hand, specialized programming languages (e.g., Logo) contain built- in keywords and syntax for drawing.

In this project, your group will design and implement a new programming language to draw pictures. Figure 1 shows an example of program and the drawing produced by your program. In addition, you will need to highlight the features of your programming language and convince users why they should use your programming language (instead of existing programming languages).

DRAW LINE COLOR … AT … …
…
…



a program

the drawing produced by your program Figure 1: Example of your programming language

1

2. The Compilation Process

Figure 2 shows the compilation process for this project. It has three layers.

Layer 1:

Layer 2:

Layer 3:

Design a grammar file for your programming language;
Use SableCC to compile them into compiler classes
Modify compiler classes to implement semantic analysis and code generation; Compile a drawing X (written in your language) into a Java drawing class Compile the Java drawing class with the “Draw Engine”

Note that the components shown in blue color are given to you (e.g., the “Draw Engine” written in Java).

[Layer 1]

[Layer 2]

[Layer 3] Screen

Grammar file

Drawing X

(in your language)

display

Drawing X

(Java class)

Figure 6: Compilation process

Your task is to develop the components shown in black:
(i) your programming language for writing any drawing X

SableCC (Java tool)

a. Design a grammar file (with lexical rules & syntax rules)
(ii) the compiler for converting the drawing X into a Java class (in red color) such

that it can be integrated with the “Draw Engine”

1. Convert the grammar file into compiler classes [by using SableCC]
2. Modify compiler classes to implement semantic analysis and code generation

   2

Compiler

(Java classes)

Draw Engine

(in Java)

3. Tasks and Schedule for the Project

In this project, you should form a group of 2-3 students to design and implement the above programming language. Your group needs to submit a progress report, a final project report (and source codes) and a demo video at the end of this course. Throughout the course, we will guide you on essential knowledge, skills, and tools for the project.

Here are the deadlines of your deliverables:

Deliverable
Group list (in Blackboard) Progress report Final report & demo video

Deadline
30 January 2021 20 March 2021 24 April 2021

You are recommended to use “iterative and incremental development” in this project. Here is the list of tasks and schedule for your group.

Weekly schedule
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12 W13

Task 1
Task 2

Task 3

Task 4 Task 5

Task 7

Task 6

Task 1. Form groups

• Find your classmates to form a group (by using Teams, Whatsapp, Wechat)
• Elect the group leader and discuss the role of each member
• Submit your group list in Blackboard

  Task 2. Analyze the problem and requirements

• Compare existing programming languages on drawing by using language evaluation

  criteria (e.g., readability, writability, reliability)

• Identify the main requirements and features of your programming language

Task 3. Design the language

3

• Use your language to write a few small sample programs
• Design the data types supported by your language
• Design the syntax (i.e., grammar) of your language
• Design the semantics of your language (e.g., attribute grammar, scope rules, typing)
• Check your sample program with the syntax and semantics of your language;

  revise your language if necessary

  Task 4. Implement the language

• Use a compiler tool (SableCC)
• Select the core features of your language to be implemented
• Prepare the grammar file (with lexical rules & syntax rules)
• Modify compiler classes to implement semantic analysis and code generation

  Task 5. Testing

• This task proceeds in parallel with the task 4
• Design test cases (several sample programs written in your language)
• Test whether your sample programs can be compiled successfully
• Test whether your drawing classes work correctly

  Task 6. Iterative development

• Your group should have completed the previous iteration of tasks 4 and 5
• Decide the next important feature to be implemented in the current iteration
• Add this feature to your language by repeating tasks 4 and 5
• Repeat this development process until the compiler classes become ready

  Task 7. Write report

• This task proceeds in parallel with all the tasks shown above

  Don’t start writing the report at the end of this semester! Start early!

• Each time when you complete a task (e.g., analyzing requirements), try to summarize

  what you have done in a document

• Circulate the document among your group members for their comments
• Refine the chapters and combine them into a report at the end of semester

  4

4. Important Deadlines

4.1 Group Formation Deadline: 30 January 2021 Try to meet with your classmates (either face-to-face or online).
Remember that your group should contain 2-3 students.
Please elect a group leader to contact with us in future.

If you have difficulty in group formation, please email to us. We will assign you to a group.

4.2 Progress Report Deadline: 20 March 2021 The weighting of this part is 10% of project marks.

Your group leader will have to submit the progress report as a single pdf file in Blackboard.

In order to keep track of your progress, your group will submit a progress report (about 5- 10 pages, single-spacing, font size 12). The progress report should have these sections:

1. A Simple Introduction
2. Requirement / Problem Analysis

• Summarize what you have done in task 2
• Show the main requirements of your programming language 3. Design

• Summarize what you have done in task 3
• Show the data types, syntax, and semantics of your language (designed so far)
• Show some sample programs written in your language

  4.3. Project Report Deadline: 24 April 2021

  The weighting of this part is 50% of project marks.
  The group leader will have to submit the followings in Blackboard:

1. (i)  project report as a single pdf file, and
2. (ii)  a single zip file that contains your source codes, including

Make sure that your source codes can be compiled and executed properly.

Please be reminded that YOUR project report must be written in your own words about what you have learnt from the topic. Try to use your own (textual or graphical) examples to illustrate your ideas and methods. Any quoted materials must be appropriately cited.

5

(2) .java and .class files, (3) sample input files and output screenshots of results,

(1) a grammar file,

(4) a README file about how to compile and run your codes.

Report format

Use single-spacing, and the “Times New Roman” font with font size 12. Your report should contain the following sections:

0. Contribution statement

1. Introduction
2. Requirement & Problem Analysis

• Document what you have done in task 2 3. Design

• Document what you have done in task 3 4. Implementation

• Document what you have done in task 4 (including the work in task 6) 5. Testing

• Document what you have done in task 5 (including the work in task 6) 6. Conclusion

7. Appendix

Page limit

The total page limit of Sections 1—6 is 30 pages.
You are recommended to put important information in Sections 1—6. There is no page limit for the appendix (Section 7).