This manual (@value{UPDATED}) is for @acronym{GNU} Bison (version
@value{VERSION}), the @acronym{GNU} parser generator.
-Copyright @copyright{} 1988-1993, 1995, 1998-2010 Free Software
-Foundation, Inc.
+Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999,
+2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Free
+Software Foundation, Inc.
@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the @acronym{GNU} Free Documentation License,
-Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software
+Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software
Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts
being ``A @acronym{GNU} Manual,'' and with the Back-Cover Texts as in
(a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled
* Simple GLR Parsers:: Using @acronym{GLR} parsers on unambiguous grammars.
* Merging GLR Parses:: Using @acronym{GLR} parsers to resolve ambiguities.
-* GLR Semantic Actions:: Deferred semantic actions have special concerns.
+* GLR Semantic Actions:: Considerations for semantic values and deferred actions.
+* Semantic Predicates:: Controlling a parse with arbitrary computations.
* Compiler Requirements:: @acronym{GLR} parsers require a modern C compiler.
Examples
@menu
* Simple GLR Parsers:: Using @acronym{GLR} parsers on unambiguous grammars.
* Merging GLR Parses:: Using @acronym{GLR} parsers to resolve ambiguities.
-* GLR Semantic Actions:: Deferred semantic actions have special concerns.
+* GLR Semantic Actions:: Considerations for semantic values and deferred actions.
+* Semantic Predicates:: Controlling a parse with arbitrary computations.
* Compiler Requirements:: @acronym{GLR} parsers require a modern C compiler.
@end menu
@node GLR Semantic Actions
@subsection GLR Semantic Actions
+The nature of @acronym{GLR} parsing and the structure of the generated
+parsers give rise to certain restrictions on semantic values and actions.
+
+@subsubsection Deferred semantic actions
@cindex deferred semantic actions
By definition, a deferred semantic action is not performed at the same time as
the associated reduction.
to invoke @code{yyclearin} (@pxref{Action Features}) or to attempt to free
memory referenced by @code{yylval}.
+@subsubsection YYERROR
@findex YYERROR
@cindex @acronym{GLR} parsers and @code{YYERROR}
Another Bison feature requiring special consideration is @code{YYERROR}
initiate error recovery.
During deterministic @acronym{GLR} operation, the effect of @code{YYERROR} is
the same as its effect in a deterministic parser.
-In a deferred semantic action, its effect is undefined.
-@c The effect is probably a syntax error at the split point.
+The effect in a deferred action is similar, but the precise point of the
+error is undefined; instead, the parser reverts to deterministic operation,
+selecting an unspecified stack on which to continue with a syntax error.
+In a semantic predicate (see @ref{Semantic Predicates}) during nondeterministic
+parsing, @code{YYERROR} silently prunes
+the parse that invoked the test.
+
+@subsubsection Restrictions on semantic values and locations
+@acronym{GLR} parsers require that you use POD (Plain Old Data) types for
+semantic values and location types when using the generated parsers as
+C++ code.
+
+@node Semantic Predicates
+@subsection Controlling a Parse with Arbitrary Predicates
+@findex %?
+@cindex Semantic predicates in @acronym{GLR} parsers
+
+In addition to the @code{%dprec} and @code{%merge} directives,
+@acronym{GLR} parsers
+allow you to reject parses on the basis of arbitrary computations executed
+in user code, without having Bison treat this rejection as an error
+if there are alternative parses. (This feature is experimental and may
+evolve. We welcome user feedback.) For example,
+
+@smallexample
+widget :
+ %?@{ new_syntax @} "widget" id new_args @{ $$ = f($3, $4); @}
+ | %?@{ !new_syntax @} "widget" id old_args @{ $$ = f($3, $4); @}
+ ;
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+is one way to allow the same parser to handle two different syntaxes for
+widgets. The clause preceded by @code{%?} is treated like an ordinary
+action, except that its text is treated as an expression and is always
+evaluated immediately (even when in nondeterministic mode). If the
+expression yields 0 (false), the clause is treated as a syntax error,
+which, in a nondeterministic parser, causes the stack in which it is reduced
+to die. In a deterministic parser, it acts like YYERROR.
+
+As the example shows, predicates otherwise look like semantic actions, and
+therefore you must be take them into account when determining the numbers
+to use for denoting the semantic values of right-hand side symbols.
+Predicate actions, however, have no defined value, and may not be given
+labels.
+
+There is a subtle difference between semantic predicates and ordinary
+actions in nondeterministic mode, since the latter are deferred.
+For example, we could try to rewrite the previous example as
+
+@smallexample
+widget :
+ @{ if (!new_syntax) YYERROR; @} "widget" id new_args @{ $$ = f($3, $4); @}
+ | @{ if (new_syntax) YYERROR; @} "widget" id old_args @{ $$ = f($3, $4); @}
+ ;
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+(reversing the sense of the predicate tests to cause an error when they are
+false). However, this
+does @emph{not} have the same effect if @code{new_args} and @code{old_args}
+have overlapping syntax.
+Since the mid-rule actions testing @code{new_syntax} are deferred,
+a @acronym{GLR} parser first encounters the unresolved ambiguous reduction
+for cases where @code{new_args} and @code{old_args} recognize the same string
+@emph{before} performing the tests of @code{new_syntax}. It therefore
+reports an error.
-Also, see @ref{Location Default Action, ,Default Action for Locations}, which
-describes a special usage of @code{YYLLOC_DEFAULT} in @acronym{GLR} parsers.
+Finally, be careful in writing predicates: deferred actions have not been
+evaluated, so that using them in a predicate will have undefined effects.
@node Compiler Requirements
@subsection Considerations when Compiling @acronym{GLR} Parsers
Do not allow @code{YYINITDEPTH} to be greater than @code{YYMAXDEPTH}.
-@c FIXME: C++ output.
-Because of semantic differences between C and C++, the deterministic
-parsers in C produced by Bison cannot grow when compiled
-by C++ compilers. In this precise case (compiling a C parser as C++) you are
-suggested to grow @code{YYINITDEPTH}. The Bison maintainers hope to fix
-this deficiency in a future release.
+You can generate a deterministic parser containing C++ user code from
+the default (C) skeleton, as well as from the C++ skeleton
+(@pxref{C++ Parsers}). However, if you do use the default skeleton
+and want to allow the parsing stack to grow,
+be careful not to use semantic types or location types that require
+non-trivial copy constructors.
+The C skeleton bypasses these constructors when copying data to
+new, larger stacks.
@node Error Recovery
@chapter Error Recovery
Grammar}.
@end deffn
+@deffn {Directive} %?@{@var{expression}@}
+Predicate actions. This is a type of action clause that may appear in
+rules. The expression is evaluated, and if false, causes a syntax error. In
+@acronym{GLR} parsers during nondeterministic operation,
+this silently causes an alternative parse to die. During deterministic
+operation, it is the same as the effect of YYERROR.
+@xref{Semantic Predicates}.
+
+This feature is experimental.
+More user feedback will help to determine whether it should become a permanent
+feature.
+@end deffn
+
@deffn {Construct} /*@dots{}*/
Comment delimiters, as in C.
@end deffn
@bye
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