I am wondering whether there exists any declarative language for arbitrarily describing the format and semantics of a data structure, that can be compiled to a specific implementation of that structure in any of a set of target languages. That is, something like a generic data definition language but geared toward describing arbitrary data structures such as vectors, lists, trees, etc., and the semantics of operations on those structures. I ask because I had an idea for a feasible implementation of this concept, and I'm just wondering whether it's worth it, and, consequently, whether it's been done before.
Another, slightly more abstract question: is there any real difference between the normative specification of a data structure (what it does) and its implementation (how it does it)?
