Spirit syntax

From: andy.elvey_at_[hidden]
Date: 2001-05-25 02:26:08

Hi all. 

 I've been looking through the discussion of Spirit's syntax - very 
enlightening it is , too ... :-) 

 Although I'm a newcomer to the parsing area, I thought I'd add my 2c 
worth anyway (on the theory that (hopefully!) a fresh and new pair of 
eyes from outside may be useful .

 I've found the current syntax of Spirit to be not confusing at all. 
Given that some with vastly more experience than me *may* find it 
confusing, I was wondering - would it be possible to have (say) a 
*flag* of some kind , so that users could have a *choice* of syntax? 

 By choice, I mean only two choices - the current syntax , or 
something else .... 

 For example , if I (as a newbie) wanted to use Spirit with its 
current syntax , I could put "Spirit -c" ( for "classic" syntax - 
or "newbie" syntax, if you like) . 

   Someone else may find the current syntax confusing.  In that case, 
they could put "Spirit -a"  (for "alternative" syntax).   

 I know the above probably sounds *really* silly ( :-) ) , but I have 
to say that (as a newcomer), I'd been poking around and looking at 
EBNF syntax here and there, and I *immediately*  fell in love with 
Spirit *as it is* (with the syntax it has now).  I'm just trying to 
put forward the possibility of having the option (of syntax "as it is 
now" , or "other" , for those who'd prefer another syntax).  

 Oh - there *is* another way around this - you could have a "newbie" 
version of Spirit (with syntax as now) , and an "advanced" version of 
it (with syntax as put forward elsewhere on this list).   Just 
another possiblity.   I'm just saying that as a newbie, Spirit is 
***way*** easier to understand than *anything* else I've come across 
in the parser area.  Would like to see it able to be used by all 
skill levels, not only the gurus!  :-)) 

  The above would no doubt add to the complexity of things, but I 
thought I'd mention it anyway ..... :-)  Looking forward to hearing 
your comments - thanks for your time !