I love it. Watch this... [context] >>> A language specification in BNF is just syntax. It doesn't say anything >>> about semantics. So how could this be used to produce executable C code >>> for a program? BNF is used to produce parsers. But a parser isn't >>> sufficient. >> >> A C program is just syntax also. How does the compiler generate >> executable machine code? Extrapolate into a Python front-end to C.
[Dave Angel responds:] > Did you even read the paragraph you quoted above? The BNF specification > does NOT completely describe a language, it only defines its syntax. [Steven D'Aprano responds:] > Like every other language, C programs are certainly not *just* syntax. > Here is some syntax: > > &foo bar^ := Now, I don't know where y'all were taught Computer Science, but BNF specifies not only syntax (which would be the *tokens* of a language), but also its *grammar*; how syntax relates to linguistic categories like keywords, and tokens relate to each other. Dave is claiming that BNF only defines the syntax of a language, but then Stephen goes on to supply some syntax that a BNF specification of the language would not allow (even though Steven calls it "syntax" which is what BNF in Dave's claim parses). So which of you is confused? I ask that in the inclusive (not exclusive OR) sense.... ;^) <-- face says "both". Mark Janssen Tacoma, Washington. -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
