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" As a compiler developer or programming language researcher, one very common question is how to represent the syntax of a programming language in order to inte

" As a compiler developer or programming language researcher, one very common question is how to represent the syntax of a programming language in order to interpret, compile, analyze, optimize, and/or transform it. One of the first lessons you learn is to not represent syntax as the literal string of characters written by the programmer, but rather convert it to an abstract syntax tree (AST). " Note: AST does not "represent the syntax of a programming language", but represents a program written in the language. Perhaps worth amendment given this article seems otherwise excellent.

evertedsphere 2y ago
the AST type represents the syntax of the language, each inhabitant of which type is a representation of an individual program in the language
- chrisjj 2y ago
  My parse stumbled at "which type".
  - bckr 2y ago
    The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Each instance of the AST type is a representation of an individual program in the language.
    - chrisjj 2y ago
      > The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Agreed, but was not mentioned by the text in question, note. Thing != Thing's type.
  - wizzwizz4 2y ago
    "which" is doing double duty as a relative pronoun and a determiner. I think. Parse it as "each […] of which […]", which serves the same grammatical function as "each of which" would. Edit: A specific procedure for understanding this part of the sentence: (1) Replace "each inhabitant of which type" with "each of which". (2) Parse the sentence. (3) Interpret "each" as qualified by "inhabitant" (i.e., each of them is an inhabitant), and "which" as qualified by "type" (i.e., the referent of "which" is a type).
    - chrisjj 2y ago
      That leaves me stuck at "type". EDIT: #2 gives "The AST type represents the syntax of the language, each of which is a representation of an individual program in the language." But "each of which" what? There's no collection for it.
      - evertedsphere 2y ago
        "… the language. each inhabitant of this type is …"
        chrisjj 2y ago
        OK, so: "The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Each inhabitant of this type is a representation of an individual program in the language." I agree. But my AST does not "represent the syntax of a programming language" stands. Thing != Thing's type.
        evertedsphere 2y ago
        the first sentence that you quote doesn't mention the term AST or "AST type" at all, the second sentence is clearly talking about terms (i.e. inhabitants of a type) this is meaningless nitpicking over a problem of your own invention
        chrisjj 2y ago
        > the first sentence that you quote doesn't mention the term ... > "AST type" at all. And nor does the second. "AST type" is soley your addition. > the second sentence is clearly talking about terms (i.e. inhabitants of a type) It is clearly about syntax, as introduced in the first sentence. And that is a feature of the language, not program. Type, not inhabitant of type.
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evertedsphere 2y ago

the AST type represents the syntax of the language, each inhabitant of which type is a representation of an individual program in the language

chrisjj 2y ago
My parse stumbled at "which type".
- bckr 2y ago
  The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Each instance of the AST type is a representation of an individual program in the language.
  - chrisjj 2y ago
    > The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Agreed, but was not mentioned by the text in question, note. Thing != Thing's type.
- wizzwizz4 2y ago
  "which" is doing double duty as a relative pronoun and a determiner. I think. Parse it as "each […] of which […]", which serves the same grammatical function as "each of which" would. Edit: A specific procedure for understanding this part of the sentence: (1) Replace "each inhabitant of which type" with "each of which". (2) Parse the sentence. (3) Interpret "each" as qualified by "inhabitant" (i.e., each of them is an inhabitant), and "which" as qualified by "type" (i.e., the referent of "which" is a type).
  - chrisjj 2y ago
    That leaves me stuck at "type". EDIT: #2 gives "The AST type represents the syntax of the language, each of which is a representation of an individual program in the language." But "each of which" what? There's no collection for it.
    - evertedsphere 2y ago
      "… the language. each inhabitant of this type is …"
      - chrisjj 2y ago
        OK, so: "The AST type represents the syntax of the language. Each inhabitant of this type is a representation of an individual program in the language." I agree. But my AST does not "represent the syntax of a programming language" stands. Thing != Thing's type.
        evertedsphere 2y ago
        the first sentence that you quote doesn't mention the term AST or "AST type" at all, the second sentence is clearly talking about terms (i.e. inhabitants of a type) this is meaningless nitpicking over a problem of your own invention
        chrisjj 2y ago
        > the first sentence that you quote doesn't mention the term ... > "AST type" at all. And nor does the second. "AST type" is soley your addition. > the second sentence is clearly talking about terms (i.e. inhabitants of a type) It is clearly about syntax, as introduced in the first sentence. And that is a feature of the language, not program. Type, not inhabitant of type.
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