From: "Wolfgang Nádasi-Donner" <wonado@...>
Date: 2005-07-22T18:45:57+09:00
Subject: Re: Rubys Regular Expression Engine

>>>>> snip >>>>>
.... Btw, can't that
regular expression be simplified a bit?  The two * could be turned into
a single ? and the [^()] can be turned into [^(] and [^)], or?
>>>>>snap >>>>>

It depends on the definition of 'balanced' needed. If [^(] is used the string 'abcde(fgh' will be recognized
as balanced.

The two * are necessary if one needs to match balanced strings, independant of its structure, e.g.
'abvv(d(jhj)kjj)hd(jhb(j))hdjh'. This form has an advantage too. it is related to Friedl's loop enrolling
structure "<normal>(<special><normal>*)*' and avoids endless matching.

Much more complicated is the question "greedy or not greedy" in the recursion.

Best regards, Wolfgang Nadasi-Donner