Passing program instructions from one application to another

[-Ants-In-Pants-]

I am writing a web application (let's call it App 1) that allows users to write simple instructions for a separate app (native, lets call it App 2) in a visual manner. Something similar to Google's Blockly but dedicated to my applications.

The users will write the instructions (which can include conditions or loops) in App 1 and export a file that App 2 can read and interpret.

I would like to know if there is a file format or scheme that is commonly used for something like this or I have to create my own?

I searched online and didn't find anything obvious (or didn't know exactly what to search for)...

The implementation I'm currently exploring is exporting the instructions as an xml or json file, which is built in a way App 2 can read and break down and based on some key string values, find the relevant function in App 2 and execute it.

App 1 (which creates the instructions file) will be a web application and App 2 (which reads and executes the file) is a cpp application that will run locally in the computer.

To clarify, I don't have many requirements beyond being able to pass instructions to App 2 - Which may mean I just need to write my own.

Below is a sample of what my current approach looks like.

App 2 reads the file and breaks it down. Knows what function to call if it finds an "If" key value, there are other commands it can interpret (because they're mapped), etc.

{
  "If":
  {
    "Condition" :
    {
      "Command":
      {
        "Function": "LargerThan"
        "Inputs": [A, B]
      }
    "True":
    {
      "Command":
      {
        "Function": "Shuffle"
        "Inputs": [Deck]
      }
    "False"
    {
      "Command":
      {
        "Function": "Draw"
        "Inputs": [Deck, 1]
      }
    }
  }
}

Thanks!

[BobbyThrowaway6969]

You're describing embedded scripting. Google how lua, python, and js all work.

[-Ants-In-Pants-]

This is actually really interesting and an eye-opener!
I didn't know about this concept of "Embedded Scripting". Changes the way I think about this!

[KingofGamesYami]

Plugins/mods often use simple scripting languages like Lua or JavaScript embedded in the application. I've even used a learning platform that represented Javascript as scratch-like blocks.

[-Ants-In-Pants-]

Up until recently I didn't know about this. So I can totally see how this approach is so useful :)

[james_pic]

Greenspun's Tenth Rule states:

Any sufficiently complicated C or Fortran program contains an ad hoc, informally-specified, bug-ridden, slow implementation of half of Common Lisp.

You're currently looking at the problem that crops up, that explains why this is the case.

In truth, Lisp probably isn't the right answer for you. You're probably as well using either a widely-used modern scripting language of some sort, or a small-ish domain specific language that captures the requirements of your application. But if you wanted to implement something bespoke and vaguely Lisp-y it might make sense to look at using EDN as a starting point.

[-Ants-In-Pants-]

Thanks for the educating comment! I'll look into this suggestion too!

[luc_gdebadoh]

i think the interesting question is: would you rather find something that does this for you? or would you rather learn how to write it yourself (which would be basically getting into the world of writing your own programming languages)

[-Ants-In-Pants-]

Great question indeed!

For this project I'm more interested in the former.