Neverlang 2 : componentised language development for the JVM

Traditional compiler development is non-modular. Although syntax extension and DSL embedding is making its way back in modern language design and implementation, componentisation in compiler construction is still an overlooked matter. Neverlang is a language development framework that emphasises modularity and code reuse. Neverlang makes extension, restriction and feature sharing easier, by letting developers define language components in distinct, independent units, that can be compiled independently and shared across different language implementations, even in their compiled form. The semantics of the implemented languages can be specified using any JVM-supported language. In this paper we will present the architecture and implementation of Neverlang 2, by the help of an example inspired by mobile devices and context-dependent behaviour. The Neverlang framework is already being employed successfully in real-world environments.