Online Lex Yacc Compiler: A Comprehensive Guide

As programmers, building compilers and interpreters is a crucial task. However, using tools like lex and yacc can be a daunting experience, especially when it comes to editing files. In this article, we will explore the world of lex and yacc compilers, highlighting the challenges faced by developers and introducing you to some of the best IDEs for Yacc and Lex.

The lex and yacc utilities are powerful tools that help programmers build compilers and interpreters. However, they also have a wider range of applications beyond compiler development. In this book, we will show you how to use these tools in your program development workflow.

To get started, make sure you have the necessary files (.l and .y) in the same directory as your prompt. Compile them using flex hello.l and bison -dy hello.y, then gcc lex.yy.c y.tab.c -o hello.exe. This will create an executable file that you can run using a.out.

While there are many IDEs available for Yacc and Lex, finding one that provides proper syntax highlighting, indentation, and code intellisense can be challenging. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the best IDEs for Yacc and Lex, including Vim, NeoVIM, Textmate, Emacs/Spacemacs, Visual Studio Code, Sublime, XCode, Visual Studio, Atom, and CLion.

As a developer, I have tried many of these IDEs, but unfortunately, none of them offer perfect syntax highlighting and intellisense. However, Vim is probably the best overall, despite some irritating issues with its configuration. If you are not familiar with Vim, it may take some time to get used to its unique interface.

In conclusion, building compilers and interpreters using lex and yacc can be a complex task. While there are many IDEs available for Yacc and Lex, finding one that provides proper syntax highlighting, indentation, and code intellisense can be challenging. With this guide, we hope to make the process easier for you, and help you get started with your compiler development journey.

References:

* John Levine, Doug Brown, Tony Mason - 'lex & yacc'

* Vim documentation

Online lex yacc compiler