Method and apparatus for generating a translator program for a compiler/interpreter and for testing the resulting translator program

A translator writing system for developing a completed translator program that transforms a user's source code into object code, comprising:

• means for introducing a program into said translator writing system, said program being a summary of the pertinent characteristics of the user's source code;
• developing means responsive to said program for developing said completed translator program, said developing measn further including,
• a correct testcase generator means for testing said translator program utilizing a plurality of correct program statement corresponding to the user's source code, and
• an incorrect testcase generator means for testing said translator program utilizing a plurality of incorrect program statements corresponding to the user's source code,
• the plurality of correct program statements and the plurality of incorrect program statements being examples of all correct and incorrect uses of program statements, respectively, in the user's source code.

A method of developing and testing a completed translator program, comprising the steps of:

• developing a summary program summarizing the pertinent characteristics associated with a user's source code, said source code being a language and including a plurality of program statements;
• entering said summary program into a translator writing system, said translator writing system developing said completed translator program by converting said summary program into said completed translator program;
• and
• testing said completed translator program by interrogating said translator program with examples of all correct uses of program statements in the language of said user's source code.

A translator writing system for developing a completed translator program that transforms a user's source code into object code, comprising:

• means for receiving a program into said translator writing system, said program representing a summary of the pertinent characteristics of the user's source code;
• and
• developing means responsive to said program for developing said completed translator program, said developing means including testing means for testing the completely developed translator program, the testing means including a data base comprising a plurality of statements, the plurality of statements being examples of all incorrect uses of program statements of said user's source code, the testing including an interrogation of said developed translator program using each stastement of said plurality of statements thereby producing a plurality of error messages,
• whereby analysis of said error messages as to number and type reveals if all expected ones of said error messages were produced in response to said interogation.

A method of completely developing and testing a translator program, comprising the steps of:

• developing a summary program summarizing the pertinent characteristics of a user's source code, said source code being a language and including a pluraity of program statements;
• entering said summary program into a translator writing system, said translator writing system completely developing said trnaslator program by converting said summary program into said translator program;
• and
• testing said translator program by interrogating said translator program with examples of all incorrect uses of program statements in the language of said user's source code thereby producing a plurality of error messages and analyzing said error messages as to number and type.