From: Simon Strandgaard <neoneye@...>
Date: 2004-05-14T23:36:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Regexp Error?

Simon Strandgaard <neoneye@adslhome.dk> wrote:
> On Fri, 14 May 2004 23:21:27 +0900
> ts <decoux@moulon.inra.fr> wrote:
> 
> > >>>>> "S" == Simon Strandgaard <neoneye@adslhome.dk> writes:
> > 
> > S> ts <decoux@moulon.inra.fr> wrote:
> > S> [snip] 
> > >> What do you expect with ?
> > >> 
> > >> /(.*).*/ =~ "abc"
> > 
> > S> According to the left-most-longest rule.. I would guess the output
> > S> should be ["abc", "abc"].. 
> > 
> >  Then you have make .* match *twice* :-)
> > 
> >  If the regexp can't match the empty string in the second .* (because it's
> >  included in the first), it must not give a result
> 
> I don't understand you here.. (maybe your assumption is wrong) ?
> 
> 
> Lets break it down
> 
> 1)  The left-most .* will first eat to the end of input, and will now contain "abc".
>     Then it hits end of input.
> 
> 2)  the left-most .* backtracks one time
> 
> 3)  The right-most .* eats to end of input... it now contains ""
> 
> 4)  the left-most .* backtracks one time

          ^^^^^^^^^
          right-most


> 
> 5)  Done.
> 
> -- 
> Simon Strandgaard
>