From: Logan Capaldo <logancapaldo@...>
Date: 2007-02-22T12:50:02+09:00
Subject: Re: Parser as an alternative to RegExen

On Thu, Feb 22, 2007 at 12:26:12PM +0900, James Edward Gray II wrote:
> On Feb 21, 2007, at 8:15 PM, S. Robert James wrote:
> 
> >I'm parsing a large file, currently using compound regexen:
> >
> >PREAMBLE = 'AA'
> >USERID = '\d{8}'
> >USER_HELLO = "#{PREMABLE}(#{USERID})"
> >
> >Is there a simple way to do this using a parser such as ANTLR?  I've
> >never used one before, so if it requires a learning curve, I'll stick
> >to my regexen.
> 
> I really don't think there's any value in going all the way to a  
> parser generator here.  This job looks to be squarely in the Regexp  
> domain, so there's no reason to feel bad about using them.
> 
Agreed.

OTOH, Parsers are sure fun to write! (esp. rec descent ones for simple
grammars).

If you do decide to go with a parser generator, check out Dhaka,
http://dhaka.rubyforge.org/

> James Edward Gray II