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Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839494]

Mon, 22 March 2021 16:54

Martin Ceronio

Messages: 3
Registered: March 2021

Junior Member

I am working my way through Implementing Domain-Specific Languages with Xtext and Xtend. I have gotten to chapter 4, dealing with Validations.

According to the book, Xtext is supposed to have generated a validator class in Xtend, but the generated file is actually a Java class file.

Did I do something wrong in following the instructions (I don't believe I did) or did something change since the book was written?

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Re: Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839495 is a reply to message #1839494]

Mon, 22 March 2021 17:36

Christian Dietrich

Messages: 13939
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Newer Xtext versions generate Java by default for most extension points .
You can change that back by changing the workflow
And remove/change preferXtendStubs = false

Need professional support for Xtext, Xpand, EMF?
Go to: https://www.itemis.com/en/it-services/methods-and-tools/xtext
Twitter : @chrdietrich
Blog : https://www.dietrich-it.de

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Re: Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839508 is a reply to message #1839495]

Tue, 23 March 2021 05:12

Martin Ceronio

Messages: 3
Registered: March 2021

Junior Member

Thank you.

May I ask why? I thought Xtend is the preferred way due to it being easier to write concise code.

Is the future direction that all extension points will move to Java and away from Xtend?

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Re: Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839509 is a reply to message #1839508]

Tue, 23 March 2021 05:38

Christian Dietrich

Messages: 13939
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

yes see https://www.eclipse.org/Xtext/releasenotes.html#/releasenotes/2019/12/03/version-2-20-0

Need professional support for Xtext, Xpand, EMF?
Go to: https://www.itemis.com/en/it-services/methods-and-tools/xtext
Twitter : @chrdietrich
Blog : https://www.dietrich-it.de

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Re: Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839517 is a reply to message #1839509]

Tue, 23 March 2021 06:49

Martin Ceronio

Messages: 3
Registered: March 2021

Junior Member

OK, thanks!
I signed up to Packt to read that book; glad I didn't buy it :-)
Hope there will be a third edition coming out some time.

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Re: Generated validator is .java, not .xtend [message #1839518 is a reply to message #1839517]

Tue, 23 March 2021 07:24

Ed Willink

Messages: 7129
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Hi

wrt the release note you omit what I consider to be the big plus and the big minus of Xtend.

+ String Templates make writing an M2T much much easier - far better than JET/Acceleo
- Xtend tooling understandably lags far behind JDT making Xtend development very disappointing

So I always use an Xtend layer for my StringTemplates on top of a pure Java class for the main functionality. This gives me future proofing by enabling me to promote the auto-generated StringTemplate layer to be source code should that ever become necessary.

Regards

Ed Willink

[Updated on: Tue, 23 March 2021 07:30]

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