From: "M. Edward (Ed) Borasky" <znmeb@...>
Date: 2008-03-03T05:08:30+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby tools to develop compilers

Le Lann Jean-Christophe wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> For some days now, I have been trying to find the best Ruby tools to 
> develop compilers : lexer, parser and possibly more (ast, visitor).
> 
> There seems to be plenty of small tools, but it is difficult to know 
> whether they are mature or not.
> 
> So I would like to have feeback on your own experience in this field.
> 
> Thanks
> JC
> 
> 
> 
It depends more on the scope of the compiler(s), languages, operating 
systems where the compilers will run, etc., then it does on the "tools". 
If you're looking for a highly portable compiler for a variety of 
architectures and operating systems, for example, you're probably better 
off building a front end for the languages to the GCC intermediate and 
code generation pieces. And if you're building a compiler for a language 
already handled by GCC, the best advice I can give you is, "don't bother".

That said, the Ruby *parser* that seems to have the best user interface 
is Treetop. I've only done a couple of small things in it, but it's a 
lot easier to read Treetop code than it is to read, say, racc.