4.2. Status

The starting point for the GFEP is using the Xtext DSL Framework for Eclipse (http://www.eclipse.org/Xtext/). By converting the GF grammar into the appropriate Extended-BNF form required by the LL(*) ANTLR parser, the framework provides a good starting point for future plugin development, already including a variery of syntax checking tools and some cross-reference resolution support. The specific requirements of the GF language, particularly in the way of its special module hierarchy, mean that significant customisations to this generated base plugin are needed.

As of 1st October 2011, a first prototype of the GFEP has been released to GF developers to gather some initial feedback. This first release is not intended to be a mature development tool, but a showcase of some of the potential features that can be provided by developing GF grammars within a powerful desktop IDE. Reactions from within the GF developer community will guide the way forward, both in prioritizing the future tasks and also in better guaging the person-month cost that an eventual mature version of the plugin would require.