[stringtemplate-interest] proposed "ignore newlines" template syntax

[Sam Harwell]

Using ""..."" makes it very tedious to change a template from << >> to a
non-newline template because the escape character changes.

Sam

-----Original Message-----
From: stringtemplate-interest-bounces at antlr.org
[mailto:stringtemplate-interest-bounces at antlr.org] On Behalf Of Terence Parr
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 12:00 PM
To: Collin Fagan
Cc: stringtemplate-interest List
Subject: Re: [stringtemplate-interest] proposed "ignore newlines" template
syntax


On Apr 4, 2011, at 9:25 AM, Collin Fagan wrote:

> When you declare a single line template you can use " so it does feel
consistent to use the " symbol again. Would using a different symbol like '
require one to escape the new symbol in our templates? That might be a good
reason to not introduce a new character and use "" or """. 

Yeah,I was thinking the same thing on the way to work.  double quoted
strings "..." means single-line template at the moment... double double
quoted strings should therefore be used I guess. ok, I buy that.

t() ::= ""
<if(x)>
saldf;jalk;sdfj
<endif>
...
""

Looks fine.

Ter
> 
> Collin
> 
> On Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 10:31 AM, Terence Parr <parrt at cs.usfca.edu> wrote:
> Hi guys, thanks for the response...
> 
> I was thinking '''...''' myself like python.  I like the suggestions about
future flexibility but after 10 years this is the first change we've needed.
Contrast this with lots of antlr grammar rule options.
> 
> maybe triple double quotes to reuse "..." symbols?
> 
> t() ::= """
> ...
> """
> 
> ?
> 
> Ter
> On Apr 3, 2011, at 7:52 PM, Collin Fagan wrote:
> 
>> I think it's a great idea :) Here are some alternatives for the syntax.
I'm not quite sure that at a glance I'd notice the difference between << and
<<<.
>> 
>> Double 'double quotes'
>> ""...""
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= ""
>> <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> ""
>> Triple 'single quotes'
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> """
>> 
>> The < and > with some other symbols.
>> <# .. #>
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <# <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> #>
>> 
>> <| ... |>
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <| <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> |>
>> 
>> <@ ... @>
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <@ <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> @>
>> 
>> PHP style
>> <?...?>
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <?
>> <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> ?>
>> 
>> ASP style
>> <%...%>
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <% <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> %>
>> 
>> Collin
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Terence Parr <parrt at cs.usfca.edu> wrote:
>> Hi. There is a proposal to create special syntax that allows arbitrary
formatting within a template that does not result in new lines in the
output. This is useful when you have a really complicated template with IFs
and such that needs to generate output all on the same line. Currently, this
can be quite challenging. There's no way to read a huge template on one
line. Sam Harwell and I came up with a potential solution: a new <<<...>>>
triple angle bracket template that ignores newlines unless you use <\n>
inside.
>> 
>> Here's a simple example:
>> 
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= << 
>> <if(label)><label>=<endif><if(scope)><scope:delegateName()>.<endif><r
>> ule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> >>
>> 
>> it would probably be easier to read like this:
>> 
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <<< <if(label)> 
>> <label>= <endif> <if(scope)> <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> >>>
>> 
>> come to think of it, perhaps it should also ignore whitespace so that I
could indent the conditionals:
>> 
>> ruleRef(rule,label,elementIndex,args,scope) ::= <<< <if(label)>
>>        <label>=
>> <endif>
>> <if(scope)>
>>        <scope:delegateName()>.
>> <endif>
>> <rule.name>(<args; separator=", ">);
>> >>>
>> 
>> We while the syntax to be close, but still recognizable as different than
the usual <<...>>. I believe that there has been a proposal for special
characters at the start of the template and the addition of keyword but I
think a new template and closure syntax is better.
>> 
>> thoughts?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Ter
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 

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