I like the idea of ​​self-bootstrapping, but unfortunately only compilers and friends have this ability.
I’m very interested in a FreeMarker successor and would appreciate the support of the java.time API.

Actually, the connection between FreeMarker and JavaCC 21 is a very nifty circular dependency. This version of JavaCC 21 uses FreeMarker templates to generate code — including itself, because JavaCC 21 (like any similar tool) self-bootstraps. However, the FreeMarker parser is also implemented with JavaCC. In fact, the version of FreeMarker used internally in JavaCC 21 was built with JavaCC 21. So, all of the circular dependency and self-bootstrapping in the overall system is quite fascinating in a way! The tools are mutually used to build themselves and each other!

Hi Jon, i noticed the connection between freemarker and javacc 21 but didn’t realize that you are also one of the main authors of freemarker.

I like both tools very much and have actually used freemarker for code generation.

Thank you so much for writing this blog article! I ran across it a few days ago and meant to write you a note.

Ich wollte auf Deutsch antworten aber mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut. So I will just write in English, I guess.

It’s very nice to see that somebody appreciates the world that I’ve done on this. I also see that you’re a FreeMarker user. I am basically the main author of FreeMarker, you know! And, by the way, do you know that the code generation for JavaCC 21 is all FreeMarker templates. Here, for example, is the main template for generating the code for the parser productions. https://github.com/javacc21/javacc21/blob/master/src/ftl/java/ParserProductions.java.ftl

Oh, by the way, I very recently started a new discussion forum (there was an existing one but I decided to change the software I use) and that is at http://discuss.congocc.org and maybe you would not mind showing up there and writing some comment or other. It doesn’t have to be very profound. You can just say hi if you want!