Principal modes

can be used Java mode, in AST/standalone-mode, and in CoSy-fSDL-mode.

Java mode

can read Java classes to filter out type, graph, and set definitions. In this case the output language is Java.

AST/standalone-mode

is able - with small restrictions - to read existing data model specifications of AST [GE90] [Gro89]. Existing AST data specifications of compilers can be reused and extended for use with . AST data definitions are module-based and AST-modules may occur within -specification files. Thus AST data definition language can also be used as standalone data definition language of . In this case the output language is C.

CoSy-fSDL-mode

This mode is only feasible in the CoSy compiler framework. The data model is specified in CoSy-fSDL, as common files and views of engines, that collaborate in the compiler. For each compiler, CoSy produces a flatform-file which contains all fSDL specifications in a flat form. must read this file to know about the data model (option -ff). In this case the output language is C.

The compiler construction toolbox Cocktail is available in two forms. There is a free version at ftp://i44ftp.info.uni-karlsruhe.de/pub/cocktail/. After 1993, Josef Grosch, the developer of Cocktail, has become independent and maintains Cocktail within his own company. Currently there is an improved version of the toolbox, e.g. containing a new LR(k) parser generator with visual debugging aid. A research licence is available for this version.