Advice on (learning) parsing

DeadXorAlive · 2005-10-11T14:11:55

I'm interested in learning how to make and / or use a parser. What would be a good way to go? So far, I have written (from a book) only a very simple recursive descent parser (or so I am told), for a stack based calculator (in C++). Basically I'm looking for the big picture here: - Any useful tools. I've heard about yacc-lex, is it hard? - Any references, links, books. - What is involved in writing / using a parser that is extensible, what are the components? - How difficult is it, how much experience and time needed? What are the required programming skills? (I might drop the whole idea for now and learn those skills first) These are some project ideas that get me excited. Any comments are welcome: - Adventure games like the old Larry (eh excited, not intended). - Simple First Order Logic parser. I had an educational tool called Tarski's world where you could write FOL sentences about some geometric objects, whose truth-value would then be evaluated. In the long run, something like this in a game would be very nice. - Parsing and translating C++ in plain English. I suppose this is too much, but I like the idea.

For Beginners

Started by DeadXorAlive October 10, 2005 10:29 AM

12 comments, last by Bordogg 18 years, 6 months ago

SiCrane

11,840

October 10, 2005 07:17 PM

Quote:Original post by Bordogg
yacc stands for "yet another compiler compiler", it's used to compile a programming language grammar into a compiler. I don't think that will help.

Have you actually ever used YACC or a YACC like program? YACC is used to build parsers, and is certainly easier than writing your own parser.

DeadXorAlive

535

Author

October 10, 2005 07:54 PM

Quote:Original post by SiCrane
Quote:Original post by Bordogg
yacc stands for "yet another compiler compiler", it's used to compile a programming language grammar into a compiler. I don't think that will help.

Have you actually ever used YACC or a YACC like program? YACC is used to build parsers, and is certainly easier than writing your own parser.

But boost::spirit is easier than YACC?
I gathered from spirit's documentation that in order of the complexity of the task one could even just use scanners or regular expressions for simple tasks and YACC for the more complex ones, like building a computer language. Spirit is useful for large projects but still relatively easy. Is that a correct overview?

SiCrane

11,840

October 10, 2005 07:56 PM

I find boost::spirit useful for small parsers, but lex and yacc together a better tool for more complex things. In my experience, spirit is just a pain to debug.

Bordogg

139

October 11, 2005 02:11 PM

Quote:Original post by SiCrane
Have you actually ever used YACC or a YACC like program? YACC is used to build parsers, and is certainly easier than writing your own parser.

I won't use it till next my next school semester when I take compiler construction. After that it'll probably be my best friend.

EDIT: Thanks for the info too, I was unaware that yacc built parsers in general, my understanding was its use was limited to compiler construction.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not.A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.-Horace Walpole

Advice on (learning) parsing

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Advice on (learning) parsing

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