CppParser Repository

Source code parsing using Rules and Actions

Quick Status

Code functions correctly

no known defects

Demonstration code

yes

Documentation

yes - needs more

Test cases

no, but planned

Static library

no, but planned

Build requires

C++17 option

Planned design changes

Factor Rules and Actions into
language specific sets

Fig 1. Rule-Based Parsing

1.0 Concept

CppParser executes static rule-based code parsing on specified files in a specified directory tree. It displays results in an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).

The scanner returns a token string that represents some grammatical construct, e.g., a file's opening scope with the tokens rtype fname {. That is passed down a chain of rules. Each rule is a grammer detector, e.g., file open scope.

When a token sequence matches a rule, the rule invokes its actions on the tokens which usually store information in an abstract syntax tree or data store.

1.1 Resources

BlogParser.html describes how the Parser works in some detail.

2.0 Build

CppParser was built with Visual Studio Community Edition - 2019 and tested on Windows 10.

3.0 Status

This parser has been used in several class projects and three doctoral research projects. It is flexible and simple enough for students to understand with a few hours of study.