Hi John.

I've just started using t-gen and I think you have done excellent work
porting it.  If you're interested, I'll help to modernize the
interface.  Emacs-style syntax awareness would be a nice first step.

One thing I noticed about it.  If there is a syntax error either in
the tokens or the grammar, no notification is given.  It just appears
to do nothing.  Also, sometimes when you load two different grammars
in the same window, it gives strange errors.  It does not seem to
reinitialize properly.

I looked into the first problem, but I found it to be a mess to debug
because it does not actually signal a top-level error.  Would you be
able to provide pointers about where to look?

The second problem deals with stuff I don't yet understand, so I'll
need to learn more before doing any work on it.

Thanks again for porting this!

-John

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Sarkela [mailto:john_sarkela at 4thEstate.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 10:18 AM
> To: squeak
> Subject: First cut at T-gen
>
>
> Hello fellow language hackers,
>
> A hasty port of T-gen, a translator generator, is now available.
> T-gen is a translator generator that belongs to the lex/yacc
> family of syntax directed compiler generators. T-gen was
> originally developed under the supervision of Justin Graver.
>
> This port was done quickly and has not been carefully examined.
> The supplied regression tests all work, so it should be quite
> usable for the experimenter.
>
> The t-gen distribution may be retrieved in a zip file from
>
>     http://www.TheFourthEstate.com/apps/squeak.html
>
> The distribution includes a number of example grammars.
> Please look at the file, readmeTgen, in order to get started.
> Also print a copy of the users guide. T-gen is a very
> powerful tool, but not at all obvious to the casual observer.
>
> BTW, the port depends upon exception support and has been
> tested on Squeak 2.6 only. There is every reason to believe
> that it will work as well in 2.5 if the TFEI exception package
> has been previously loaded.
>
> CAVEAT LECTOR
> When downloading and unzipping the port *PLEASE* make
> sure that there are no CR/LF translations. If CR/LF translations
> occur, the code will file in and not function correctly.
>
> John Sarkela
> CTO The Fourth Estate, Inc.
>
>