'\"
'\" Generated from file 'pt_introduction\&.man' by tcllib/doctools with format 'nroff'
'\" Copyright (c) 2009 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users\&.sourceforge\&.net>
'\"
.TH "pt_introduction" n 1\&.1 tcllib "Parser Tools"
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.SH NAME
pt_introduction \- Introduction to Parser Tools
.SH SYNOPSIS
package require \fBTcl 8\&.5 9\fR
.sp
.BE
.SH DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the Parser Tools, a system for the creation and
manipulation of parsers and the grammars driving them\&.
.PP
What are your goals which drove you here ?
.IP [1]
Do you simply wish to create a parser for some language ?
.sp
In that case have a look at our parser generator application,
\fBpt\fR, or, for a slightly deeper access, the package underneath it,
\fBpt::pgen\fR\&.
.IP [2]
Do you wish to know more about the architecture of the system ?
.sp
This is described in the section
\fBParser Tools Architecture\fR, below
.IP [3]
Is your interest in the theoretical background upon which the packages
and tools are build ?
.sp
See the \fIIntroduction to Parsing Expression Grammars\fR\&.
.PP
.SH "PARSER TOOLS ARCHITECTURE"
The system can be split into roughly three layers, as seen in the
figure below
.PP
IMAGE: architecture
.PP
These layers are, from high to low:
.IP [1]
At the top we have the application and the packages using the packages
of the layer below to implement common usecases\&. One example is the
aforementioned \fBpt::pgen\fR which provides a parser generator\&.
.sp
The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section
\fBUser Packages\fR
.IP [2]
In this layer we have the packages which provide the core of the
functionality for the whole system\&. They are, in essence, a set of
blocks which can be combined in myriad ways, like Lego (tm)\&. The
packages in the previous level are 'just' pre-fabricated combinations
to cover the most important use cases\&.
.sp
The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section
\fBCore Packages\fR
.IP [3]
Last, but not least is the layer containing support packages providing
generic functionality which not necessarily belong into the module\&.
.sp
The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section
\fBSupport Packages\fR
.PP
.SS "USER PACKAGES"
.TP
\fBpt::pgen\fR
.PP
.SS "CORE PACKAGES"
This layer is further split into six sections handling the storage,
import, export, transformation, and execution of grammars, plus
grammar specific support packages\&.
.TP
Storage
.RS
.TP
\fBpt::peg::container\fR
.RE
.TP
Export
.RS
.TP
\fBpt::peg::export\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::export::container\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::export::json\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::export::peg\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::container\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::json\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::peg\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::param\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::tclparam\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::to::cparam\fR
.RE
.TP
Import
.RS
.TP
\fBpt::peg::import\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::import::container\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::import::json\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::import::peg\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::from::container\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::from::json\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg::from::peg\fR
.RE
.TP
Transformation
.TP
Execution
.RS
.TP
\fBpt::peg::interp\fR
.TP
\fBpt::rde\fR
.RE
.TP
Support
.RS
.TP
\fBpt::tclparam::configuration::snit\fR
.TP
\fBpt::tclparam::configuration::tcloo\fR
.TP
\fBpt::cparam::configuration::critcl\fR
.TP
\fBpt::ast\fR
.TP
\fBpt::pe\fR
.TP
\fBpt::peg\fR
.RE
.PP
.SS "SUPPORT PACKAGES"
.TP
\fBpt::peg::container::peg\fR
.TP
\fBtext::write\fR
.TP
\fBconfiguration\fR
.TP
\fBpaths\fR
.TP
\fBchar\fR
.PP
.SH "BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK"
This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain
bugs and other problems\&.
Please report such in the category \fIpt\fR of the
\fITcllib Trackers\fR [http://core\&.tcl\&.tk/tcllib/reportlist]\&.
Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have for either
package and/or documentation\&.
.PP
When proposing code changes, please provide \fIunified diffs\fR,
i\&.e the output of \fBdiff -u\fR\&.
.PP
Note further that \fIattachments\fR are strongly preferred over
inlined patches\&. Attachments can be made by going to the \fBEdit\fR
form of the ticket immediately after its creation, and then using the
left-most button in the secondary navigation bar\&.
.SH KEYWORDS
EBNF, LL(k), PEG, TDPL, context-free languages, expression, grammar, matching, parser, parsing expression, parsing expression grammar, push down automaton, recursive descent, state, top-down parsing languages, transducer
.SH CATEGORY
Parsing and Grammars
.SH COPYRIGHT
.nf
Copyright (c) 2009 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users\&.sourceforge\&.net>

.fi
