Grammar-based design of embedded systems

Grammars define syntax of languages and as such have not been commonly considered as methods for design, despite well-known applications in computer science. Only in recent years grammar-based design has become a promising research field and the first commercial tools have appeared on the market. This paper reviews the basic concepts of applying grammars to electronic design – in particular to the device driver synthesis of communication protocols for embedded software, to the design of custom-hardware, and to the virtual prototyping of DSP systems. The paper shows the power of these methods, presents the latest research results and discusses future developments in this field.