3 ms·
I don't really understand this, I'm comfortable enough programming in C, but I find it the least suited to parsing behaviour compared to pretty much every other
by NikkiA 3y ago
I don't really understand this, I'm comfortable enough programming in C, but I find it the least suited to parsing behaviour compared to pretty much every other higher-level language. In particular, I find parser combinators (be it in lisps, MLs, haskell) to be infinitely more approachable and mentally managable than anything easily doable in C.
(Yes, you can do parser combinators in C, but it's very very ugly unless you stick to clang and enable block support).
If anything I'd expect to be told to use a high(er) level language for parsing as a front end to C code if needed.
- Izkata 3y ago> I don't really understand this If you just jumped to the code, it's in the first 2.5 sentences: > People are terrified of parsers and parsing. To the point of using magical libraries with custom syntaxes to learn just to get started. In the hopes of completely shattering this preconception Seems mostly to me about making parsing less "magical" for people who don't understand what's really going on.
- mrkeen 3y agoI agree with your description of TFA's goal, but I don't think the article hits that goal. Parent is right in that other approaches (parser combinators) can actually make parsing less scary.