grammar::peg -
Create and manipulate parsing expression grammars
package require Tcl 8.4
package require snit
package require grammar::peg ? 0.1 ?
::grammar::peg pegName ? =|:=|<--|as|deserialize src ?
pegName destroy
pegName clear
pegName = srcPEG
pegName --> dstPEG
pegName serialize
pegName deserialize serialization
pegName is valid
pegName start ? pe ?
pegName nonterminals
pegName nonterminal add nt pe
pegName nonterminal delete nt1 ? nt2 ... ?
pegName nonterminal exists nt
pegName nonterminal rename nt ntnew
pegName nonterminal mode nt ? mode ?
pegName nonterminal rule nt
pegName unknown nonterminals
This package provides a container class for
parsing expression grammars (Short: PEG).
It allows the incremental definition of the grammar, its manipulation
and querying of the definition.
The package neither provides complex operations on the grammar, nor has
it the ability to execute a grammar definition for a stream of symbols.
Two packages related to this one are grammar::mengine and
grammar::peg::interpreter. The first of them defines a
general virtual machine for the matching of a character stream, and
the second implements an interpreter for parsing expression grammars
on top of that virtual machine.
PEGs are similar to context-free grammars, but not equivalent; in some
cases PEGs are strictly more powerful than context-free grammars (there
exist PEGs for some non-context-free languages).
The formal mathematical definition of parsing expressions and parsing
expression grammars can be found in section
PARSING EXPRESSION GRAMMARS.
In short, we have terminal symbols, which are the most basic
building blocks for sentences, and nonterminal symbols
with associated parsing expressions, defining the grammatical
structure of the sentences. The two sets of symbols are distinctive,
and do not overlap. When speaking about symbols the word "symbol" is
often left out. The union of the sets of terminal and nonterminal
symbols is called the set of symbols.
Here the set of terminal symbols is not explicitly managed,
but implicitly defined as the set of all characters. Note that this
means that we inherit from Tcl the ability to handle all of Unicode.
A pair of nonterminal and parsing expression is also
called a grammatical rule, or rule for short. In the
context of a rule the nonterminal is often called the left-hand-side
(LHS), and the parsing expression the right-hand-side (RHS).
The start expression of a grammar is a parsing expression
from which all the sentences contained in the language specified by
the grammar are derived.
To make the understanding of this term easier let us assume for a
moment that the RHS of each rule, and the start expression, is either
a sequence of symbols, or a series of alternate parsing expressions.
In the latter case the rule can be seen as a set of rules, each
providing one alternative for the nonterminal.
A parsing expression A' is now a derivation of a parsing expression A
if we pick one of the nonterminals N in the expression, and one of the
alternative rules R for N, and then replace the nonterminal in A with
the RHS of the chosen rule. Here we can see why the terminal symbols
are called such. They cannot be expanded any further, thus terminate
the process of deriving new expressions.
An example
Rules
(1) A <- a B c
(2a) B <- d B
(2b) B <- e
Some derivations, using starting expression A.
A -/1/-> a B c -/2a/-> a d B c -/2b/-> a d e c
A derived expression containing only terminal symbols is a
sentence. The set of all sentences which can be derived from
the start expression is the language of the grammar.
Some definitions for nonterminals and expressions:
-
A nonterminal A is called reachable if it is possible to derive
a parsing expression from the start expression which contains A.
-
A nonterminal A is called useful if it is possible to derive a
sentence from it.
-
A nonterminal A is called recursive if it is possible to derive
a parsing expression from it which contains A, again.
-
The FIRST set of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which
can occur of as the leftmost symbol in a parsing expression derived from
A. If the FIRST set contains A itself then that nonterminal is called
left-recursive.
-
The LAST set of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which
can occur of as the rightmost symbol in a parsing expression derived from
A. If the LAST set contains A itself then that nonterminal is called
right-recursive.
-
The FOLLOW set of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which
can occur after A in a parsing expression derived from the start
expression.
-
A nonterminal (or parsing expression) is called nullable if the
empty sentence can be derived from it.
And based on the above definitions for grammars:
-
A grammar G is recursive if and only if it contains a nonterminal
A which is recursive. The terms left- and right-recursive,
and useful are analogously defined.
-
A grammar is minimal if it contains only reachable and
useful nonterminals.
-
A grammar is wellformed if it is not left-recursive. Such
grammars are also complete, which means that they always succeed
or fail on all input sentences. For an incomplete grammar on the
other hand input sentences exist for which an attempt to match them
against the grammar will not terminate.
-
As we wish to allow ourselves to build a grammar incrementally in a
container object we will encounter stages where the RHS of one or more
rules reference symbols which are not yet known to the container. Such
a grammar we call invalid.
We cannot use the term incomplete as this term is already
taken, see the last item.
The package exports the API described here.
-
::grammar::peg pegName ? =|:=|<--|as|deserialize src ?
-
The command creates a new container object for a parsing expression
grammar and returns the fully qualified name of the object command as
its result. The API the returned command is following is described in
the section CONTAINER OBJECT API. It may be used to invoke
various operations on the container and the grammar within.
The new container, i.e. grammar will be empty if no src is
specified. Otherwise it will contain a copy of the grammar contained
in the src.
The src has to be a container object reference for all operators
except deserialize.
The deserialize operator requires src to be the
serialization of a parsing expression grammar instead.
An empty grammar has no nonterminal symbols, and the start expression
is the empty expression, i.e. epsilon. It is valid, but not
useful.
All grammar container objects provide the following methods for the
manipulation of their contents:
-
pegName destroy
-
Destroys the grammar, including its storage space and associated
command.
-
pegName clear
-
Clears out the definition of the grammar contained in pegName,
but does not destroy the object.
-
pegName = srcPEG
-
Assigns the contents of the grammar contained in srcPEG to
pegName, overwriting any existing definition.
This is the assignment operator for grammars. It copies the grammar
contained in the grammar object srcPEG over the grammar
definition in pegName. The old contents of pegName are
deleted by this operation.
This operation is in effect equivalent to
pegName deserialize [srcPEG serialize]
-
pegName --> dstPEG
-
This is the reverse assignment operator for grammars. It copies the
automation contained in the object pegName over the grammar
definition in the object dstPEG.
The old contents of dstPEG are deleted by this operation.
This operation is in effect equivalent to
dstPEG deserialize [pegName serialize]
-
pegName serialize
-
This method serializes the grammar stored in pegName. In other
words it returns a tcl value completely describing that
grammar.
This allows, for example, the transfer of grammars over arbitrary
channels, persistence, etc.
This method is also the basis for both the copy constructor and the
assignment operator.
The result of this method has to be semantically identical over all
implementations of the grammar::peg interface. This is what
will enable us to copy grammars between different implementations of
the same interface.
The result is a list of four elements with the following structure:
-
The constant string grammar::peg.
-
A dictionary. Its keys are the names of all known nonterminal symbols,
and their associated values are the parsing expressions describing
their sentennial structure.
-
A dictionary. Its keys are the names of all known nonterminal symbols,
and their associated values hints to a matcher regarding the semantic
values produced by the symbol.
-
The last item is a parsing expression, the start expression
of the grammar.
Assuming the following PEG for simple mathematical expressions
Digit <- '0'/'1'/'2'/'3'/'4'/'5'/'6'/'7'/'8'/'9'
Sign <- '+' / '-'
Number <- Sign? Digit+
Expression <- '(' Expression ')' / (Factor (MulOp Factor)*)
MulOp <- '*' / '/'
Factor <- Term (AddOp Term)*
AddOp <- '+'/'-'
Term <- Number
a possible serialization is
grammar::peg \\
{Expression {/ {x ( Expression )} {x Factor {* {x MulOp Factor}}}} \\
Factor {x Term {* {x AddOp Term}}} \\
Term Number \\
MulOp {/ * /} \\
AddOp {/ + -} \\
Number {x {? Sign} {+ Digit}} \\
Sign {/ + -} \\
Digit {/ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9} \\
} \\
{Expression value Factor value \\
Term value MulOp value \\
AddOp value Number value \\
Sign value Digit value \\
}
Expression
A possible one, because the order of the nonterminals in the
dictionary is not relevant.
-
pegName deserialize serialization
-
This is the complement to serialize. It replaces the grammar
definition in pegName with the grammar described by the
serialization value. The old contents of pegName are
deleted by this operation.
-
pegName is valid
-
A predicate. It tests whether the PEG in pegName is valid.
See section TERMS & CONCEPTS for the definition of this
grammar property.
The result is a boolean value. It will be set to true if
the PEG has the tested property, and false otherwise.
-
pegName start ? pe ?
-
This method defines the start expression of the grammar. It
replaces the previously defined start expression with the parsing
expression pe.
The method fails and throws an error if pe does not contain a
valid parsing expression as specified in the section
PARSING EXPRESSIONS. In that case the existing start
expression is not changed.
The method returns the empty string as its result.
If the method is called without an argument it will return the currently
defined start expression.
-
pegName nonterminals
-
Returns the set of all nonterminal symbols known to the grammar.
-
pegName nonterminal add nt pe
-
This method adds the nonterminal nt and its associated parsing
expression pe to the set of nonterminal symbols and rules of the
PEG contained in the object pegName.
The method fails and throws an error if either the string nt is
already known as a symbol of the grammar, or if pe does not
contain a valid parsing expression as specified in the section
PARSING EXPRESSIONS. In that case the current set of
nonterminal symbols and rules is not changed.
The method returns the empty string as its result.
-
pegName nonterminal delete nt1 ? nt2 ... ?
-
This method removes the named symbols nt1, nt2 from the
set of nonterminal symbols of the PEG contained in the object
pegName.
The method fails and throws an error if any of the strings is not
known as a nonterminal symbol. In that case the current set of
nonterminal symbols is not changed.
The method returns the empty string as its result.
The stored grammar becomes invalid if the deleted nonterminals are
referenced by the RHS of still-known rules.
-
pegName nonterminal exists nt
-
A predicate. It tests whether the nonterminal symbol nt is known
to the PEG in pegName.
The result is a boolean value. It will be set to true if the
symbol nt is known, and false otherwise.
-
pegName nonterminal rename nt ntnew
-
This method renames the nonterminal symbol nt to ntnew.
The method fails and throws an error if either nt is not known
as a nonterminal, or if ntnew is a known symbol.
The method returns the empty string as its result.
-
pegName nonterminal mode nt ? mode ?
-
This mode returns or sets the semantic mode associated with the
nonterminal symbol nt. If no mode is specified the
current mode of the nonterminal is returned. Otherwise the current
mode is set to mode.
The method fails and throws an error if nt is not known as a
nonterminal.
The grammar interpreter implemented by the package
grammar::peg::interpreter recognizes the
following modes:
- value
-
The semantic value of the nonterminal is the abstract syntax tree
created from the AST's of the RHS and a node for the nonterminal
itself.
- match
-
The semantic value of the nonterminal is an the abstract syntax tree
consisting of single a node for the string matched by the RHS. The ASTs
generated by the RHS are discarded.
- leaf
-
The semantic value of the nonterminal is an the abstract syntax tree
consisting of single a node for the nonterminal itself. The ASTs
generated by the RHS are discarded.
- discard
-
The nonterminal has no semantic value. The ASTs generated by the RHS
are discarded (as well).
-
pegName nonterminal rule nt
-
This method returns the parsing expression associated with the
nonterminal nt.
The method fails and throws an error if nt is not known as a
nonterminal.
-
pegName unknown nonterminals
-
This method returns a list containing the names of all nonterminal
symbols which are referenced on the RHS of a grammatical rule, but
have no rule definining their structure. In other words, a list of
the nonterminal symbols which make the grammar invalid. The grammar
is valid if this list is empty.
Various methods of PEG container objects expect a parsing expression
as their argument, or will return such. This section specifies the
format such parsing expressions are in.
-
The string epsilon is an atomic parsing expression. It matches
the empty string.
-
The string alnum is an atomic parsing expression. It matches
any alphanumeric character.
-
The string alpha is an atomic parsing expression. It matches
any alphabetical character.
-
The string dot is an atomic parsing expression. It matches
any character.
-
The expression
[list t x]
is an atomic parsing expression. It matches the terminal string x.
-
The expression
[list n A]
is an atomic parsing expression. It matches the nonterminal A.
-
For parsing expressions e1, e2, ... the result of
[list / e1 e2 ... ]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the ordered choice, aka prioritized choice.
-
For parsing expressions e1, e2, ... the result of
[list x e1 e2 ... ]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the sequence.
-
For a parsing expression e the result of
[list * e]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the kleene closure, describing zero or more
repetitions.
-
For a parsing expression e the result of
[list + e]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the positive kleene closure, describing one or more
repetitions.
-
For a parsing expression e the result of
[list & e]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the and lookahead predicate.
-
For a parsing expression e the result of
[list ! e]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the not lookahead predicate.
-
For a parsing expression e the result of
[list ? e]
is a parsing expression as well.
This is the optional input.
Examples of parsing expressions where already shown, in the
description of the method serialize.
For the mathematically inclined, a PEG is a 4-tuple (VN,VT,R,eS) where
-
VN is a set of nonterminal symbols,
-
VT is a set of terminal symbols,
-
R is a finite set of rules, where each rule is a pair (A,e), A in VN,
and e a parsing expression.
-
eS is a parsing expression, the start expression.
Further constraints are
-
The intersection of VN and VT is empty.
-
For all A in VT exists exactly one pair (A,e) in R. In other words, R
is a function from nonterminal symbols to parsing expressions.
Parsing expression are inductively defined via
-
The empty string (epsilon) is a parsing expression.
-
A terminal symbol a is a parsing expression.
-
A nonterminal symbol A is a parsing expression.
-
e1e2 is a parsing expression for parsing expressions
e1 and 2. This is called sequence.
-
e1/e2 is a parsing expression for parsing expressions
e1 and 2. This is called ordered choice.
-
e* is a parsing expression for parsing expression
e. This is called zero-or-more repetitions, also known
as kleene closure.
-
e+ is a parsing expression for parsing expression
e. This is called one-or-more repetitions, also known
as positive kleene closure.
-
!e is a parsing expression for parsing expression
e1. This is called a not lookahead predicate.
-
&e is a parsing expression for parsing expression
e1. This is called an and lookahead predicate.
PEGs are used to define a grammatical structure for streams of symbols
over VT. They are a modern phrasing of older formalisms invented by
Alexander Birham. These formalisms were called TS (TMG recognition
scheme), and gTS (generalized TS). Later they were renamed to TPDL
(Top-Down Parsing Languages) and gTPDL (generalized TPDL).
They can be easily implemented by recursive descent parsers with
backtracking. This makes them relatives of LL(k) Context-Free
Grammars.
-
http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/~baford/packrat/,
by Bryan Ford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is the main
entry page to PEGs, and their realization through Packrat Parsers.
-
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~dick/PTAPG.html, an online book
offering a clear, accessible, and thorough discussion of many
different parsing techniques with their interrelations and
applicabilities, including error recovery techniques.
-
http://scifac.ru.ac.za/compilers/, an online book using
CoCo/R, a generator for recursive descent parsers.
This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain
bugs and other problems.
Please report such in the category
grammar_peg of the
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=12883.
Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have for either
package and/or documentation.
grammar, expression, push down automaton, state, parsing expression, parsing expression grammar, context-free languages, parsing, transducer, LL(k), TDPL, top-down parsing languages, recursive descent