[antlr-interest] What is the real value of ANTLR TreeParsing?

[Terence Parr]

Hi Michael,

You may find this faq entry answers your question nicely :)

http://www.jguru.com/faq/view.jsp?EID=818959

It's called "What is a tree parser and why would I want to use one?"

I would like to make ANTLR ASTs DOM compatible but I can't since DOM 
used the same method names as I have but return DOM not AST so Java 
bitches.  I cannot fix this w/o breaking backward compatibility big time 
with existing ANTLR translators :(  Tell those DOM guys I was here 
first ;)

Regards,
Terence

On Thursday, July 25, 2002, at 11:34  AM, micheal_jor wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Can anyone please define what the real value of TreeParsers are?
>
> I am more familiar with the construction of a custom AST object
> hierarchy that supports the use of ConcreteVisitors (cf The Visitor
> Pattern) to implement phases such as type-checking, code-generateion
> etc.
>
> Given that TreeParsers essentially mandate the use of ANTLR's own AST
> structure, I feel the need to be very clear about their utility. So
> far all I can see is:
>
> a. Since ANTLR AST is used, AST creation is easier and absorbed into
> grammar creation costs
> b. Supplied utilities (ParseView and ASTFrame) allows visualization
> of AST.
> c. For [relatively straightforward] source-to-source translation
> tasks, TreeParsers are probably the best choice given the reduction
> in code required and the "executable documentation" aspect of the *.g
> specifications.
>
> Since choosing to use TreeParsers also effectively precludes using
> custom ASTs and the Visitor pattern....are there any limitations to
> adopting ANTLR ASTs and TreeParsers?. The project of interest is a
> code transformer/analyzer for about three custom languages. It is
> written in Java currently (without ANTLR) but a switch to C++ is
> likely if I can find decent C++ ANTLR examples to build off.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Micheal
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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