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26<ul>
27  <li><a href="#templatized_functors">Templatized Functors</a></li>
28  <li><a href="#multiple_scanner_support">Rule With Multiple Scanners</a></li>
29  <li><a href="#no_rules">Look Ma' No Rules!</a></li>
30  <li><a href="#typeof">typeof</a></li>
31  <li><a href="#nabialek_trick">Nabialek trick</a></li>
32</ul>
33<h3><a name="templatized_functors"></a> Templatized Functors</h3>
34<p>For the sake of genericity, it is often better to make the functor's member
35  <tt>operator()</tt> a template. That way, we do not have to concern ourselves
36  with the type of the argument to expect as long as the behavior is appropriate.
37  For instance, rather than hard-coding <tt>char const*</tt> as the argument of
38  a generic semantic action, it is better to make it a template member function.
39  That way, it can accept any type of iterator:</p>
40<pre><code><font color="#000000"><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>my_functor
41    </span><span class=special>{
42        </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>IteratorT</span><span class=special>&gt;
43        </span><span class=keyword>void </span><span class=keyword>operator</span><span class=special>()(</span><span class=identifier>IteratorT </span><span class=identifier>first</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>IteratorT </span><span class=identifier>last</span><span class=special>) </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>;
44    </span><span class=special>};</span></font></code></pre>
45<p>Take note that this is only possible with functors. It is not possible to pass
46  in template functions as semantic actions unless you cast it to the correct
47  function signature; in which case, you <em>monomorphize</em> the function. This
48  clearly shows that functors are superior to plain functions.</p>
49<h3><b><a name="multiple_scanner_support" id="multiple_scanner_support"></a> Rule
50  With Multiple Scanners</b></h3>
51<p>As of v1.8.0, rules can use one or more scanner types. There are cases, for
52  instance, where we need a rule that can work on the phrase and character levels.
53  Rule/scanner mismatch has been a source of confusion and is the no. 1 <a href="faq.html#scanner_business">FAQ</a>.
54  To address this issue, we now have <a href="rule.html#multiple_scanner_support">multiple
55  scanner support</a>. </p>
56<p>Here is an example of a grammar with a rule <tt>r</tt> that can be called with
57  3 types of scanners (phrase-level, lexeme, and lower-case). See the <a href="rule.html">rule</a>,
58  <a href="grammar.html">grammar</a>, <a href="scanner.html#lexeme_scanner">lexeme_scanner</a> 
59  and <a href="scanner.html#as_lower_scanner">as_lower_scanner </a>for more information.
60</p>
61<p>Here's the grammar (see <a href="../example/techniques/multiple_scanners.cpp">multiple_scanners.cpp</a>):
62</p>
63<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>my_grammar </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>grammar</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>my_grammar</span><span class=special>&gt;
64    </span><span class=special>{
65        </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;
66        </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>definition
67        </span><span class=special>{
68            </span><span class=identifier>definition</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>my_grammar </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>self</span><span class=special>)
69            </span><span class=special>{
70                </span><span class=identifier>r </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>lower_p</span><span class=special>;
71                </span><span class=identifier>rr </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=special>+(</span><span class=identifier>lexeme_d</span><span class=special>[</span><span class=identifier>r</span><span class=special>] </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>as_lower_d</span><span class=special>[</span><span class=identifier>r</span><span class=special>] </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>r</span><span class=special>);
72            </span><span class=special>}
73
74            </span><span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=identifier>scanner_list</span><span class=special>&lt;
75                </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT
76              </span><span class=special>, </span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>lexeme_scanner</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;::</span><span class=identifier>type
77              </span><span class=special>, </span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>as_lower_scanner</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;::</span><span class=identifier>type
78            </span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=identifier>scanners</span><span class=special>;
79
80            </span><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>scanners</span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=identifier>r</span><span class=special>;
81            </span><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=identifier>rr</span><span class=special>;
82            </span><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>start</span><span class=special>() </span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=keyword>return </span><span class=identifier>rr</span><span class=special>; </span><span class=special>}
83        </span><span class=special>};
84    </span><span class=special>};</span></pre>
85<p>By default support for multiple scanners is disabled.  The macro
86  <tt>BOOST_SPIRIT_RULE_SCANNERTYPE_LIMIT</tt> must be defined to the
87  maximum number of scanners allowed in a scanner_list.  The value must
88  be greater than 1 to enable multiple scanners.  Given the
89  example above, to define a limit of three scanners for the list, the
90  following line must be inserted into the source file before the
91  inclusion of Spirit headers:
92</p>
93<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=preprocessor>#define </span><span class=identifier>BOOST_SPIRIT_RULE_SCANNERTYPE_LIMIT</span> <span class=literal>3</span></pre>
94<h3><span class=special></span><b> <a name="no_rules" id="no_rules"></a> Look
95  Ma' No Rules</b></h3>
96<p>You use grammars and you use lots of 'em? Want a fly-weight, no-cholesterol,
97  super-optimized grammar? Read on...</p>
98<p>I have a love-hate relationship with rules. I guess you know the reasons why.
99  A lot of problems stem from the limitation of rules. Dynamic polymorphism and
100  static polymorphism in C++ do not mix well. There is no notion of virtual template
101  functions in C++; at least not just yet. Thus, the <strong>rule is tied to a
102  specific scanner type</strong>. This results in problems such as the <a href="faq.html#scanner_business">scanner
103  business</a>, our no. 1 FAQ. Apart from that, the virtual functions in rules
104  slow down parsing, kill all meta-information, and kills inlining, hence bloating
105  the generated code, especially for very tiny rules such as:</p>
106<pre>    r <span class="special">=</span> ch_p<span class="special">(</span><span class="quotes">'x'</span><span class="special">) &gt;&gt;</span> uint_p<span class="special">;</span></pre>
107<p> The rule's limitation is the main reason why the grammar is designed the way
108  it is now, with a nested template definition class. The rule's limitation is
109  also the reason why subrules exists. But do we really need rules? Of course!
110  Before C++ adopts some sort of auto-type deduction, such as that proposed by
111  David Abrahams in clc++m:</p>
112<pre>
113    <code><span class=keyword>auto </span><span class=identifier>r </span><span class=special>= ...</span><span class=identifier>definition </span><span class=special>...</span></code></pre>
114<p> we are tied to the rule as RHS placeholders. However.... in some occasions
115  we can get by without rules! For instance, rather than writing:</p>
116<pre>
117    <code><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>x </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>ch_p</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=literal>'x'</span><span class=special>);</span></code></pre>
118<p> It's better to write:</p>
119<pre>
120    <code><span class=identifier>chlit</span><span class=special>&lt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>x </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>ch_p</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=literal>'x'</span><span class=special>);</span></code></pre>
121<p> That's trivial. But what if the rule is rather complicated? Ok, let's proceed
122  stepwise... I'll investigate a simple skip_parser based on the C grammar from
123  Hartmut Kaiser. Basically, the grammar is written as (see <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule1.cpp">no_rule1.cpp</a>):</p>
124<pre><code>    <span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>grammar</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar</span><span class=special>&gt;
125    {
126        </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;
127        </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>definition
128        </span><span class=special>{
129            </span><span class=identifier>definition</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; /*</span><span class=identifier>self</span><span class=special>*/)
130            {
131                </span><span class=identifier>skip
132                    </span><span class=special>=   </span><span class=identifier>space_p
133                    </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;//&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=literal>'\n'</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>'\n'
134                    </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;/*&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;
135                    </span><span class=special>;
136            }
137
138            </span><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=identifier>skip</span><span class=special>;
139
140            </span><span class=identifier>rule</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt; </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp;
141            </span><span class=identifier>start</span><span class=special>() </span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=keyword>return </span><span class=identifier>skip</span><span class=special>; }
142        };
143    };</span></code></pre>
144<p> Ok, so far so good. Can we do better? Well... since there are no recursive
145  rules there (in fact there's only one rule), you can expand the type of rule's
146  RHS as the rule type (see <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule2.cpp">no_rule2.cpp</a>):</p>
147<pre><code><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>grammar</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar</span><span class=special>&gt;
148    {
149        </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;
150        </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>definition
151        </span><span class=special>{
152</span>            <span class=identifier>definition</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; /*</span><span class=identifier>self</span><span class=special>*/)
153            : </span><span class=identifier>skip</span><span class=special>
154                (       </span><span class=identifier>space_p
155                    </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;//&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=literal>'\n'</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>'\n'
156                    </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;/*&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;
157                </span><span class=special>)
158            {
159            }
160
161            </span><span class=keyword>typedef
162               </span><span class=identifier>alternative</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>alternative</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>space_parser</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;
163               </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt;, </span><span class=identifier>kleene_star</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>difference</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>anychar_parser</span><span class=special>,
164               </span><span class=identifier>chlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>chlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>&gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;
165               </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt;, </span><span class=identifier>kleene_star</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>difference</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>anychar_parser</span><span class=special>,
166               </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt; &gt; &gt;
167            </span><span class=identifier>skip_t</span><span class=special>;
168</span><span class=special>            </span><span class=identifier>skip_t </span><span class=identifier>skip</span><span class=special>;
169
170            </span><span class=identifier>skip_t </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp;
171            </span><span class=identifier>start</span><span class=special>() </span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=keyword>return </span><span class=identifier>skip</span><span class=special>; }
172        };
173    };</span></code></pre>
174<p> Ughhh! How did I do that? How was I able to get at the complex typedef? Am
175  I insane? Well, not really... there's a trick! What you do is define the typedef
176  <tt>skip_t</tt> first as int:</p>
177<pre>
178    <code><span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=keyword>int </span><span class=identifier>skip_t</span><span class=special>;</span></code></pre>
179<p> Try to compile. Then, the compiler will generate an obnoxious error message
180  such as:</p>
181<pre>
182    <code><span class=string>&quot;cannot convert boost::spirit::alternative&lt;... blah blah...to int&quot;</span><span class=special>.</span></code></pre>
183<p> <strong>THERE YOU GO!</strong> You got it's type! I just copy and paste the
184  correct type (removing explicit qualifications, if preferred).</p>
185<p> Can we still go further? Yes. Remember that the grammar was designed for rules.
186  The nested template definition class is needed to get around the rule's limitations.
187  Without rules, I propose a new class called <tt>sub_grammar</tt>, the grammar's
188  low-fat counterpart:</p>
189<pre><code><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>namespace </span><span class=identifier>boost </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=keyword>namespace </span><span class=identifier>spirit
190    </span><span class=special>{
191        </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>DerivedT</span><span class=special>&gt;
192        </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>sub_grammar </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>parser</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>DerivedT</span><span class=special>&gt;
193        {
194            </span><span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=identifier>sub_grammar </span><span class=identifier>self_t</span><span class=special>;
195            </span><span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=identifier>DerivedT </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>embed_t</span><span class=special>;
196
197            </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;
198            </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>result
199            </span><span class=special>{
200                </span><span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>parser_result</span><span class=special>&lt;
201                    </span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>DerivedT</span><span class=special>::</span><span class=identifier>start_t</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;::</span><span class=identifier>type
202                </span><span class=identifier>type</span><span class=special>;
203            };
204
205            </span><span class=identifier>DerivedT </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>derived</span><span class=special>() </span><span class=keyword>const
206            </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=keyword>return </span><span class=special>*</span><span class=keyword>static_cast</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>DerivedT </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>*&gt;(</span><span class=keyword>this</span><span class=special>); }
207
208            </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;
209            </span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>parser_result</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>self_t</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>ScannerT</span><span class=special>&gt;::</span><span class=identifier>type
210            </span><span class=identifier>parse</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>ScannerT </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>scan</span><span class=special>) </span><span class=keyword>const
211            </span><span class=special>{
212                </span><span class=keyword>return </span><span class=identifier>derived</span><span class=special>().</span><span class=identifier>start</span><span class=special>.</span><span class=identifier>parse</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>scan</span><span class=special>);
213            }
214        };
215    }}</span></code></pre>
216<p>With the <tt>sub_grammar</tt> class, we can define our skipper grammar this
217  way (see <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule3.cpp">no_rule3.cpp</a>):</p>
218<pre><code><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>sub_grammar</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar</span><span class=special>&gt;
219    {
220        </span><span class=keyword>typedef
221           </span><span class=identifier>alternative</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>alternative</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>space_parser</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;
222           </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt;, </span><span class=identifier>kleene_star</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>difference</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>anychar_parser</span><span class=special>,
223           </span><span class=identifier>chlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>chlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>&gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>sequence</span><span class=special>&lt;
224           </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt;, </span><span class=identifier>kleene_star</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>difference</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>anychar_parser</span><span class=special>,
225           </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;, </span><span class=identifier>strlit</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>const </span><span class=keyword>char</span><span class=special>*&gt; &gt; &gt;
226        </span><span class=identifier>start_t</span><span class=special>;
227
228        </span><span class=identifier>skip_grammar</span><span class=special>()
229        : </span><span class=identifier>start
230            </span><span class=special>(
231                </span><span class=identifier>space_p
232            </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;//&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=literal>'\n'</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>'\n'
233            </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;/*&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;
234            </span><span class=special>)
235        {}
236
237        </span><span class=identifier>start_t </span><span class=identifier>start</span><span class=special>;
238    };</span></code></pre>
239<p>But what for, you ask? You can simply use the <tt>start_t</tt> type above as-is.
240  It's already a parser! We can just type:</p>
241<pre>
242    <code><span class=identifier>skipper_t </span><span class=identifier>skipper </span><span class=special>=
243        </span><span class=identifier>space_p
244        </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;//&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=literal>'\n'</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>'\n'     </span><br>        <span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;/*&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span>
245    <span class=special>    ;</span></code></pre>
246<p> and use <tt>skipper</tt> just as we would any parser? Well, a subtle difference
247  is that <tt>skipper</tt>, used this way will be embedded <strong>by value </strong>when<strong> 
248  </strong>you compose more complex parsers using it. That is, if we use <tt>skipper</tt> 
249  inside another production, the whole thing will be stored in the composite.
250  Heavy!</p>
251<p> The proposed <tt>sub_grammar</tt> OTOH will be held by reference. Note:</p>
252<pre><code>    <span class=keyword>typedef </span><span class=identifier>DerivedT </span><span class=keyword>const</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>embed_t</span><span class=special>;</span></code></pre>
253<p>The proposed <tt>sub_grammar</tt> does not have the inherent limitations of
254  rules, is very lighweight, and should be blazingly fast (can be fully inlined
255  and does not use virtual functions). Perhaps this class will be part of a future
256  spirit release. </p>
257<table width="80%" border="0" align="center">
258  <tr> 
259    <td class="note_box"><img src="theme/note.gif" width="16" height="16"> <strong>The
260      no-rules result</strong><br> <br>
261      So, how much did we save? On MSVCV7.1, the original code: <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule1.cpp">no_rule1.cpp</a> 
262      compiles to <strong>28k</strong>. Eliding rules, <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule2.cpp">no_rule2.cpp</a>,
263      we got <strong>24k</strong>. Not bad, we shaved off 4k amounting to a 14%
264      reduction. But you'll be in for a surprise. The last version, using the
265      sub-grammar: <a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule3.cpp">no_rule3.cpp</a>,
266      compiles to <strong>5.5k</strong>! That's a whopping 80% reduction.<br>
267      <br>
268      <table width="100%" border="1">
269        <tr> 
270          <td><a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule1.cpp">no_rule1.cpp</a></td>
271          <td><strong>28k</strong></td>
272          <td>standard rule and grammar</td>
273        </tr>
274        <tr> 
275          <td><a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule2.cpp">no_rule2.cpp</a></td>
276          <td><strong>24k</strong></td>
277          <td>standard grammar, no rule</td>
278        </tr>
279        <tr> 
280          <td><a href="../example/techniques/no_rules/no_rule3.cpp">no_rule3.cpp</a></td>
281          <td><strong>5.5k</strong></td>
282          <td>sub_grammar, no rule, no grammar</td>
283        </tr>
284      </table> </td>
285  </tr>
286</table>
287<h3><b> <a name="typeof" id="typeof"></a> typeof</b></h3>
288<p>Some compilers already support the <tt>typeof</tt> keyword. Examples are g++
289  and Metrowerks CodeWarrior. Someday, <tt>typeof</tt> will become commonplace.
290  It is worth noting that we can use <tt>typeof</tt> to define non-recursive rules
291  without using the rule class. To give an example, we'll use the skipper example
292  above; this time using <tt>typeof</tt>. First, to avoid redundancy, we'll introduce
293  a macro <tt>RULE</tt>: </p>
294<pre><code>    <span class=preprocessor>#define </span><span class=identifier>RULE</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>name</span><span class=special>, </span><span class=identifier>definition</span><span class=special>) </span><span class="keyword">typeof</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>definition</span><span class=special>) </span><span class=identifier>name </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>definition</span></code></pre>
295<p>Then, simply:</p>
296<pre><code><span class=identifier>    </span><span class=identifier>RULE</span><span class=special>(
297        </span><span class=identifier>skipper</span><span class=special>,
298        (       </span><span class=identifier>space_p
299            </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;//&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=literal>'\n'</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>'\n'
300            </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=string>&quot;/*&quot; </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; *(</span><span class=identifier>anychar_p </span><span class=special>- </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;</span><span class=special>) &gt;&gt; </span><span class=string>&quot;*/&quot;
301        </span><span class=special>)
302    );</span></code></pre>
303<p>(see <a href="../example/techniques/typeof.cpp">typeof.cpp</a>)</p>
304<p>That's it! Now you can use skipper just as you would any parser. Be reminded,
305    however, that <tt>skipper</tt> above will be embedded by value when<strong> 
306  </strong>you compose more complex parsers using it (see <tt>sub_grammar</tt> rationale above). You can use the <tt>sub_grammar</tt> class to avoid this problem.</p>
307<h3><a name="nabialek_trick"></a> Nabialek trick</h3>
308<p>This technique, I'll call the <strong><em>&quot;Nabialek trick&quot; </em></strong>(from the name of its inventor, Sam Nabialek), can improve the rule dispatch from linear non-deterministic to deterministic. The trick applies to grammars where a keyword (operator, etc), precedes a production. There are lots of grammars similar to this:</p>
309<pre>    <span class=identifier>r </span><span class=special>=
310            </span><span class=identifier>keyword1 </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>production1
311        </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=identifier>keyword2 </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>production2
312        </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=identifier>keyword3 </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>production3
313        </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=identifier>keyword4 </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>production4
314        </span><span class=special>|   </span><span class=identifier>keyword5 </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>production5
315        </span><span class=comment>/*** etc ***/
316        </span><span class=special>;</span></pre>
317<p>The cascaded alternatives are tried one at a time through trial and error until something matches. The Nabialek trick takes advantage of the <a href="symbols.html">symbol table</a>'s search properties to optimize the dispatching of the alternatives. For an example, see <a href="../example/techniques/nabialek.cpp">nabialek.cpp</a>. The grammar works as follows. There are two rules (<tt>one</tt> and <tt>two</tt>). When &quot;one&quot; is recognized, rule <tt>one</tt> is invoked. When &quot;two&quot; is recognized, rule <tt>two</tt> is invoked.  Here's  the grammar:</p>
318<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=identifier>one </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>name</span><span class=special>;
319    </span><span class=identifier>two </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>name </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=literal>',' </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>name</span><span class=special>;
320   
321    </span><span class=identifier>continuations</span><span class=special>.</span><span class=identifier>add
322        </span><span class=special>(</span><span class=string>&quot;one&quot;</span><span class=special>, &amp;</span><span class=identifier>one</span><span class=special>)
323        </span><span class=special>(</span><span class=string>&quot;two&quot;</span><span class=special>, &amp;</span><span class=identifier>two</span><span class=special>)
324    </span><span class=special>;
325   
326    </span><span class=identifier>line </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>continuations</span><span class=special>[</span><span class=identifier>set_rest</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>rule_t</span><span class=special>&gt;(</span><span class=identifier>rest</span><span class=special>)] </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>rest</span><span class=special>;</span></pre>
327<p>where continuations is a <a href="symbols.html">symbol table</a> with pointer to rule_t  slots. one, two, name, line and rest are rules:</p>
328<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=identifier>rule_t </span><span class=identifier>name</span><span class=special>;
329    </span><span class=identifier>rule_t </span><span class=identifier>line</span><span class=special>;
330    </span><span class=identifier>rule_t </span><span class=identifier>rest</span><span class=special>;
331    </span><span class=identifier>rule_t </span><span class=identifier>one</span><span class=special>;
332    </span><span class=identifier>rule_t </span><span class=identifier>two</span><span class=special>;
333   
334    </span><span class=identifier>symbols</span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=identifier>rule_t</span><span class=special>*&gt; </span><span class=identifier>continuations</span><span class=special>;</span></pre>
335<p>set_rest, the semantic action attached to continuations is:</p>
336<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=keyword>template </span><span class=special>&lt;</span><span class=keyword>typename </span><span class=identifier>Rule</span><span class=special>&gt;
337    </span><span class=keyword>struct </span><span class=identifier>set_rest
338    </span><span class=special>{
339        </span><span class=identifier>set_rest</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>Rule</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>the_rule</span><span class=special>)
340        </span><span class=special>: </span><span class=identifier>the_rule</span><span class=special>(</span><span class=identifier>the_rule</span><span class=special>) </span><span class=special>{}
341
342        </span><span class=keyword>void </span><span class=keyword>operator</span><span class=special>()(</span><span class=identifier>Rule</span><span class=special>* </span><span class=identifier>newRule</span><span class=special>) </span><span class=keyword>const
343        </span><span class=special>{ </span><span class=identifier>m_theRule </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=special>*</span><span class=identifier>newRule</span><span class=special>; </span><span class=special>}
344
345        </span><span class=identifier>Rule</span><span class=special>&amp; </span><span class=identifier>the_rule</span><span class=special>;
346    </span><span class=special>};</span></pre>
347<p>Notice how the rest <tt>rule</tt> gets set dynamically when the set_rule action is called. The dynamic grammar parses inputs such as:</p>
348<p> &quot;one only&quot;<br>
349&quot;one again&quot;<br>
350&quot;two first, second&quot;</p>
351<p>The cool part is that the <tt>rest</tt> rule is set (by the <tt>set_rest</tt> action) depending on what the symbol table got. If it got a <em>&quot;one&quot;</em> then rest = one. If it got <em>&quot;two&quot;</em>, then rest = two. Very nifty! This technique should be very fast, especially when there are lots of keywords. It would be nice to add special facilities to make this easy to use. I imagine:</p>
352<pre><span class=special>    </span><span class=identifier>r </span><span class=special>= </span><span class=identifier>keywords </span><span class=special>&gt;&gt; </span><span class=identifier>rest</span><span class=special>;</span></pre>
353<p>where <tt>keywords</tt> is a special parser (based on the symbol table) that automatically sets its RHS (rest) depending on the acquired symbol. This, I think, is mighty cool! Someday perhaps... </p>
354<p><img src="theme/note.gif" width="16" height="16"> Also, see the <a href="switch_parser.html">switch parser</a> for another deterministic parsing trick for character/token prefixes. </p>
355<span class=special></span>
356<table border="0">
357  <tr> 
358    <td width="10"></td>
359    <td width="30"><a href="../index.html"><img src="theme/u_arr.gif" border="0"></a></td>
360    <td width="30"><a href="style_guide.html"><img src="theme/l_arr.gif" border="0"></a></td>
361    <td width="30"><a href="faq.html"><img src="theme/r_arr.gif" border="0"></a></td>
362  </tr>
363</table>
364<br>
365<hr size="1">
366<p class="copyright">Copyright &copy; 1998-2003 Joel de Guzman<br>
367  <br>
368<font size="2">Use, modification and distribution is subject to the Boost Software
369    License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
370    http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)</font></p>
371<p class="copyright">&nbsp;</p>
372</body>
373</html>
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