pt_introduction(3tcl)						   Parser Tools 					     pt_introduction(3tcl)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NAME

       pt_introduction - Introduction to Parser Tools

SYNOPSIS

       package require Tcl  8.5

_________________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION

       Welcome to the Parser Tools, a system for the creation and manipulation of parsers and the grammars driving them.

       What are your goals which drove you here ?

       [1]    Do you simply wish to create a parser for some language ?

	      In  that	case  have  a  look  at our parser generator application, pt, or, for a slightly deeper access, the package underneath it,
	      pt::pgen.

       [2]    Do you wish to know more about the architecture of the system ?

	      This is described in the section Parser Tools Architecture, below

       [3]    Is your interest in the theoretical background upon which the packages and tools are build ?

	      See the Introduction to Parsing Expression Grammars.

PARSER TOOLS ARCHITECTURE

       The system can be split into roughly three layers, as seen in the figure below

       IMAGE: architecture

       These layers are, from high to low:

       [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 pt::pgen which provides a parser generator.

	      The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section User Packages

       [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  combina-
	      tions to cover the most important use cases.

	      The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section Core Packages

       [3]    Last,  but  not least is the layer containing support packages providing generic functionality which not necessarily belong into the
	      module.

	      The list of packages belonging to this layer can be found in section Support Packages

   USER PACKAGES
       pt::pgen

   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.

       Storage

	      pt::peg::container

       Export

	      pt::peg::export

	      pt::peg::export::container

	      pt::peg::export::json

	      pt::peg::export::peg

	      pt::peg::to::container

	      pt::peg::to::json

	      pt::peg::to::peg

	      pt::peg::to::param

	      pt::peg::to::tclparam

	      pt::peg::to::cparam

       Import

	      pt::peg::import

	      pt::peg::import::container

	      pt::peg::import::json

	      pt::peg::import::peg

	      pt::peg::from::container

	      pt::peg::from::json

	      pt::peg::from::peg

       Transformation

       Execution

	      pt::peg::interp

	      pt::rde

       Support

	      pt::tclparam::configuration::snit

	      pt::tclparam::configuration::tcloo

	      pt::cparam::configuration::critcl

	      pt::ast

	      pt::pe

	      pt::peg

   SUPPORT PACKAGES
       pt::peg::container::peg

       text::write

       configuration

       paths

       char

BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK
       This  document,	and  the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other problems.  Please report such in the category pt of
       the Tcllib SF Trackers [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=12883].  Please also report any ideas for enhancements you  may  have  for
       either package and/or documentation.

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

CATEGORY

       Parsing and Grammars

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (c) 2009 Andreas Kupries <andreas_kupries@users.sourceforge.net>

pt									 1						     pt_introduction(3tcl)