To provide for multi-language compilation, a protocol is established for compilers. Each of at least two compilers implements the protocol. A framework is developed which discovers compilers which have implemented the protocol. The framework allows multi-language compilation using and coordinating the compliant compilers. The framework is extensible. When a new protocol-compliant compiler is discovered, the language compiled by the new compiler can be compiled using the framework and the capabilities of the protocol-compliant compilers. Similarly, a multi-language extensible design tool may be created using protocol-compliant design tools.