Identification of root rule

I noted a user of my implementation having lots of trouble this week, which 
they were unable to resolve.

My original implementation identified the top-level rule by analysing the 
grammar, but we later resolved that the top-level rule had to be the first 
rule in the grammar.

This user apparently comes from a define-before-use background, and so 
consistently had the root rule as the last in the file. As a result, they 
didn't manage to get a single successful result.

I'm not sure what to make of this. On the one hand, the spec clearly says:

 "The root symbol of the grammar is the name of the first rule in the 
grammar."


On the other hand, I feel bad for the user; I think notations should try to 
serve users, and not the other way round: usability first. Which is why I 
did my original implementation that way.


Anyway, it's a potential discussion point.


Steven

Received on Tuesday, 17 October 2023 12:05:53 UTC