Building Server-Side Web Language Processors Commentary

In the article "Building Server-Side Web Language Processors " written by Ariel Ortiz in 2010, the subject of building a compiler using a web server and client are discussed, as well as the benefits of it as a teaching tool. The concept is a little hard for me to grasp, specially since I've yet again not taken the web design course, or at least, not all of it. However, it is amazing how you can process a web language using the server itself. It seems quite challenging, and it said the article that not all projects were carried out successfully, as generating web language for the web container was particularly hard. Either way the concept is pretty interesting. It is no lie that a compiler can translate from a vast variety of source language to a target, even web language. That would have never crossed my mind.

In recent years, web applications have taken an apparent importance in the world of software development. It's far easier to program something to work in a web explorer than to design an application that may be limited by the environment's resources, such as a computer with its OS or a phone with its limitations. It's quite useful to just put it all in a server and offer it via web, so that accessibility is not an issue. A compiler that basically works online is quite the accomplishment, and while it not only offers such accessibility it is also a great way to combine two subjects from the degree curriculum. However, the limitations are apparent, because students like me would probably suffer twice as hard for poor course selection through the years. Regardless, it is good to know that these compiler design methods can be applied to an even bigger set of languages and that the only limitation to platform or translation is given by one's imagination. Maybe next time they could attempt to make a compiler phone app. It might be fun to try and see people fight against those standard app developing environments.

Source:

Ortiz, A. 2010. "Building Server-Side Web Language Processors". Retrieved 12 March 2017 from: http://webcem01.cem.itesm.mx:8005/publicaciones/weblang.pdf