DEViL."); } else { echo("HINWEIS: Diese Seiten sind veraltet. Bitte erwägen Sie, auf die Seiten des Nachfolgesystems DEViL zu wechseln."); } ?>
In comparison with other systems for implementation of visual languages, VL-Eli is very universal and suitable for implementation of complex systems. Even so, VL-Eli is specific enough to simplify the implementation process considerably.
In detail, VL-Eli has the following strengths in comparison to other systems:
Large variety of visual representations. Since VL-Eli is based on a very general specification concept, it allows a wide variety of visual representations. In contrast to many other systems, VL-Eli is not restricted to diagrams. One can implement complex decorations, which can depend on the program context. "2,5-dimensional" representations can be obtained, too.
User friendly interaction and layout operations. The implementation of visual constructs can comprise specialized interaction and layout concepts. Automatical size optimization, constraint-based layout or graph layout are examples for such layout concepts. The precoined solutions for common visual patterns already contain userfriendly implementations. The interfaces of the specification modules allow the combination of layout concepts, too.
Separate views.The program structure of real-world applications is too complex, to show it in a single diagram. VL-Eli allows to define separate views on the program structure. The presentation of each view is computed separately and shows only a part of the whole program. Overview and detail presentations can be implemented in this way.
Tools for further language processing. VL-Eli is based on the Eli-System. Eli provides modern compiler construction facilities with a wide range of sophistication. The frontend can benefit from this integration, too. For example, Eli can be used to implement semantical checks and the results can be displayed in the context of the visual language construct.